Annual Report 2023 Entire Book - Flipbook - Page 6
Introduction to PPLI
Post-Primary Languages Ireland (PPLI) is a dedicated unit providing expertise and support for foreign languages
education in Ireland. PPLI is fully funded by the Department of Education and was originally set up in September
2000 with a remit of diversifying, enhancing, and expanding the teaching of languages in second-level schools
throughout Ireland. This remains core to its remit with a focus on enhancing and broadening the opportunities
available for learning foreign languages that are relevant to Ireland’s future cultural, social, and economic needs.
A broader remit currently includes provision of the ‘Say Yes to Languages’ primary sampler module in schools,
the aims of which are to generate awareness among pupils of the range of languages used by their peers,
including Irish Sign Language, in their schools and communities to support greater inclusion and appreciation
of diversity in society, to encourage uptake of languages at post-primary level, to provide opportunities for
increased levels of collaboration among the school community with regard to the celebration of languages
and cultures, and to support implementation of Languages Connect, Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages
in Education 2017–2026.
PPLI is the only dedicated organisation supporting foreign languages education in Ireland and its important
role is recognised in Languages Connect – Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017-26 which
is the context for PPLI activities. These centre around implementation of key actions in this strategy. The core
team now consists of 23 members. The PPLI Team also includes a Japanese Language Advisor seconded by the
Japan Foundation. In addition, PPLI employs six Chinese, twenty-one Japanese, one Korean, two Lithuanian,
sixteen Polish, four Portuguese, two Romanian and six Russian Development Officers who teach in schools.
There is also a broader role for PPLI in the implementation of the strategy, which includes awareness raising,
employer engagement and languages in society, in addition to the important aspects of implementation which
relate to languages in education. An additional part of its role is to conduct applied research that informs and
supports policy.
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- PPLI ANNUAL REPORT 2023 -
