Latest news with #GaelicMediumEducation
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Forbes: Law would help parents who want Gaelic schools
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes says new legislation would "strengthen the rights" of parents who want Gaelic medium education (GME) in their local area. Under the proposed powers, the Scottish government could request that a local authority carry out an assessment into the viability of the provision. GME is available to all children and young people in 14 out of Scotland's 32 local authorities , according to Education Scotland. MSPs are due to vote on the Scottish Languages Bill next week. The proposed legislation also includes establishing Gaelic and Scots as official languages. More stories from the Highlands and Islands News from the Highlands and Islands on BBC Sounds On a visit to Inverness, Forbes told BBC Naidheachdan: "Through the languages bill, we are strengthening the rights of parents and pupils to ask for Gaelic medium education in their area. "In the past, a parent could ask for Gaelic medium education but there was no guarantee that it would be delivered. "What we've introduced through the bill is that where a parent asks for it and it isn't provided, referral can be made to the Scottish government to then also make that request." Forbes, who is a Gaelic speaker, said other "processes" would have to be followed before GME could eventually be put in place. She said there were some "complexities" in the proposed legislation, adding: "What we've done is strengthen the voice of parents who ask for Gaelic medium education." Forbes added that the Scottish government was separately trying to boost the numbers of Gaelic teachers. There have been warnings in the past of a shortage of GME teaching staff. Education Scotland, a Scottish government agency, said GME was available in about 60 primary schools and their associated secondaries in Scotland. GME is available to children through primary and secondary school. The number of people using Gaelic has increased across Scotland despite a decline in the language's heartland, according to the latest census data. The 2022 figures showed 130,161 people in Scotland had some Gaelic skills - an increase of 43,105 people from 2011. Experts said the increase in GME accounted for the rise. However, the data suggested Gaelic was a minority language in the Western Isles. While 52% reported speaking Gaelic in 2011, the figure in 2022 was 45%. The census figures also suggested 2.4 million people in Scotland had some skills in Scots skills in 2022 - an increase of more than 515,000 on 2011. New powers proposed to support Gaelic and Scots
BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Forbes: New law would back parents who want Gaelic education
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes says new legislation would "strengthen the rights" of parents who want Gaelic medium education (GME) in their local the proposed powers, the Scottish government could request that a local authority carry out an assessment into the viability of the is available to all children and young people in 14 out of Scotland's 32 local authorities , according to Education are due to vote on the Scottish Languages Bill next week. The proposed legislation also includes establishing Gaelic and Scots as official languages. On a visit to Inverness, Forbes told BBC Naidheachdan: "Through the languages bill, we are strengthening the rights of parents and pupils to ask for Gaelic medium education in their area."In the past, a parent could ask for Gaelic medium education but there was no guarantee that it would be delivered."What we've introduced through the bill is that where a parent asks for it and it isn't provided, referral can be made to the Scottish government to then also make that request."Forbes, who is a Gaelic speaker, said other "processes" would have to be followed before GME could eventually be put in said there were some "complexities" in the proposed legislation, adding: "What we've done is strengthen the voice of parents who ask for Gaelic medium education."Forbes added that the Scottish government was separately trying to boost the numbers of Gaelic have been warnings in the past of a shortage of GME teaching staff. Education Scotland, a Scottish government agency, said GME was available in about 60 primary schools and their associated secondaries in is available to children through primary and secondary number of people using Gaelic has increased across Scotland despite a decline in the language's heartland, according to the latest census 2022 figures showed 130,161 people in Scotland had some Gaelic skills - an increase of 43,105 people from said the increase in GME accounted for the the data suggested Gaelic was a minority language in the Western 52% reported speaking Gaelic in 2011, the figure in 2022 was 45%.The census figures also suggested 2.4 million people in Scotland had some skills in Scots skills in 2022 - an increase of more than 515,000 on 2011.
Edinburgh Live
29-04-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh school catchment and moving Gaelic unit under review at council debate
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Plans for the future of Gaelic education in Edinburgh are to be discussed this week. The Education, Children and Families committee will meet on Thursday as the number of applications for places at the city's only Gaelic primary school doubles in a year, and plans for a standalone secondary school stalled. Gaelic education for secondary school pupils is currently available at James Gillespie's High School - which is also seeing a rise in the number of pupils enrolled. A number of options, including exploring a catchment change, introduction of timetabling efficiencies, internal reconfiguration of existing accommodation or, if possible, additional accommodation, have all been highlighted in the meeting agenda. Plans to offer an annex unit at Liberton High School were previously ruled out and it was decided there was no budget in the capital programme to deliver a Gaelic Medium Education (GME) secondary school. Parents previously criticised plans for the provision at the new Liberton High School due to its location from the primary school and a more central site being required. Councillors agreed and a statutory consultation was paused. The main report states: "Engagement with the GME community on all aspects of GME education has continued through the Edinburgh Gaelic Collaborative Forum and in line with the specific action on demand for GME in the Gaelic Language Plan. "However, in relation to the provision of new GME primary and secondary schools, there remains no fundamental change to the update provided in 2022. Monitoring of the primary and secondary school rolls continues, and demand is currently able to be accommodated in existing provision or by introducing the rising rolls options highlighted above. "There remains no specific capital budget allocated to the provision of GME infrastructure and therefore no detailed project work can progress. The situation with potential site availability for a new GME secondary school remains as has been reported to Committee in 2022. "Following the request by Committee on 3 September 2024 to report the potential of the Police Headquarters at Fettes as a site, direct communication with the Scottish Government and Police Scotland has reconfirmed this site would not be available to the Council for the provision of a GME secondary school." In terms of next steps, the monitoring of school rolls for GME and recruitment of school staff will continue and the council will engage with the Scottish Government, the Gaelic community in Edinburgh and other stakeholders to consider the best way forward. Councillor Steve Burgess, Greens education spokesperson, said: "Greens strongly support the growth of Gaelic in the Capital, so we very much welcome any positive steps towards developing a robust strategy around the expansion of Gaelic Medium Education, which has now been stalled for years. "But the challenge is how to grow Gaelic with only one primary school, that looks to be bursting at the seams, and no dedicated high school for Gaelic, whereas Glasgow has several Gaelic primary schools and a high school. "The council needs to be working proactively with the Gaelic community in Edinburgh to rapidly produce a meaningful way forward for the growth of Gaelic in the Capital, and I would then hope and expect that the SNP Scottish Government would support this as they promised to in their last Holyrood election manifesto."
