IRISH language school campaigners have voiced disappointment at an expert panel tasked with tackling educational underachievement.
It has been set up to examine the links between underachievement and social disadvantage.
Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta (CnaG) said it welcomed its establishment but was disappointed that none of the appointed experts has direct experience of the Irish-medium sector.
It said it was frustrating to learn that the Irish-medium sector has not been included in such a pivotal initiative.
"Whilst part of this study will focus on under-achievement among Protestant working class boys, the panel has been established to examine and address links between persistent educational underachievement and socio-economic background across the entire education system," CnaG said.
"While Irish-medium schools have a non-denominational ethos and welcome pupils from all backgrounds, the majority of IM children are from the Catholic community; it is worth noting that of the 100 most deprived areas in the north, 72 are overwhelmingly Catholic. In Belfast alone, 70 per cent of Irish-medium schools are located in the top 74 most deprived areas, out of a total of 890.
"Additionally, there is a significantly higher rate of pupils from more deprived socio-economic backgrounds attending Irish-medium schools, compared to their English-medium peers. According to data collated by NISRA in 19/20, 39.9 per cent of primary pupils within the IM sector were eligible for free school meals compared to 28.6 per cent in all other sectors. This figure increased to 52.3 per cent in IM post-primary schools compared to 27.2 per cent in other sectors."
