Would you like to see an all-Gaelic School in Argyll and Bute?
That’s the question Argyll and Bute Council is asking in a new consultation that seeks to gather as many views as possible on the level of demand and support, from all parties with an interest in education and Gaelic.
The Council has a duty under the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 to prepare and publish a Gaelic Language Plan. As part of this plan, approved by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, one of the agreed actions is to hold a consultation to gauge interest in an all-Gaelic School.
Action 2.11 of the agreed Argyll and Bute Gaelic Language Plan sets out that:
“Argyll and Bute Council will engage fully and constructively with Bòrd na Gàidhlig, as adviser on Gaelic education, and other stakeholders (including parents and parent representatives) with a view to bringing forward, within the next 2 years, a consultation to ascertain the demand for an all-Gaelic School within the local authority area.”
Schools across Argyll and Bute will issue Information on the consultation. It will also be shared on the council website (Gaelic school consultation | Argyll and Bute Council (argyll-bute.gov.uk) with Gaelic versions available. The consultation runs from 22 April to 30 June 2024.
The consultation will seek views on potential demand. The Council currently has no capital budget to build and establish a new all Gaelic School. Funding for Gaelic Education could become available from the Scottish Government, should a proposal for an all Gaelic School progress. Additional funding from the Council would be required and may have an impact on the overall Education Service budget.
Councillor Jim Lynch, Leader of Argyll and Bute Council said:
“We are committed to promoting Gaelic and encouraging its use across the region. We already offer a wide variety of initiatives and resources to children and young people to learn the Gaelic language and encourage its use across Argyll and Bute.
As part of our commitment to delivering the Gaelic Language Plan, we are now asking for your thoughts on whether there is demand for an all Gaelic School. It’s important to stress that careful consideration would be required, given current budgetary restraints on the scale of funding required for a dedicated Gaelic School, should there be demand. We welcome your thoughts on whether there is interest in having a stand-alone Gaelic School in Argyll and Bute.”
What is currently available in Argyll and Bute?
- Gaelic Medium Education (GME) is an option within Scottish education that gives children and young people an opportunity to become fluent in Gaelic. Learners start in early learning and childcare settings or in P1. This option is currently available in Oban, Appin, Dunoon, Mull, Tiree and Islay.
- Gaelic taught as learner sits alongside the teaching of other modern languages in Scotland in the same way as teaching French and other languages. In the primary school, there is the opportunity to offer Gaelic (Learners) as an L2 (beginning in P1) or L3 (beginning at any point between P5 & P7). Pupils should have the opportunity to continue these languages in High School.
Argyll and Bute Council’s Gaelic Language Plan is available on the website https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-12/GLP_updated_2022-26.pdf
A’ Chomhairle a’ sireadh bheachdan air Sgoil Ghàidhlig fa leth airson Earra-Ghàidheal is Bòd
A bheil thu airson Sgoil Ghàidhlig fa leth fhaicinn ann an Earra-Ghàidheal is Bòd?
Sin a cheist a tha Comhairle Earra-Ghàidheal is Bhòid a’ cuir air beulaibh dhaoine ann an co-chomhairleachadh ùr a tha a’ sireadh nas urrainn de bheachdan air na th’ann de dh’iarrtas agus ìre taic, bho gach neach aig a bheil ùidh ann am foghlam agus a’ Ghàidhlig.
Tha dleastanas air a’ Chomhairle tro Achd na Gàidhlig (Alba) 2005 Plana Gàidhlig ullachadh agus fhoillseachadh. Mar phàirt den phlana seo, ùghdarraichte le Bòrd na Gàidhlig, ‘s e aon de na gnìomhan, co-chomhairleachadh a chumail gus beachdan a shireadh air an ìre dh dh’ùidh ann an Sgoil Ghàidhlig fa leth.
Tha gnìomh 2.11 anns a’ Phlana Gàidhlig a’ mìneachadh na leanas:
“Obraichidh Comhairle Earra-Ghàidheal is Bhòid gu buileach agus gu cuideachail le Bòrd na Gàidhlig, mar bhuidheann comhairleachaidh air foghlam Gàidhlig, agus luchd-ùidhe eile (a’ gabhail a-steach pàrantan is riochdairean phàrantan) le beachd air a bhith a’ gluasad air adhairt, taobh a-staigh dà bhliadhna, co-chomhairleachadh gus deimhinneachadh air iarrtas airson sgoil Ghàidhlig fa leth anns an sgìre ùghdarrais ionadail.”
Bidh sgoiltean air feadh Earra-Ghàidheal is Bòd a’ sgaoileadh fiosrachadh mu-dheidhinn an co-chomhairleachadh. Bidh e cuideachd ri fhaotainn air làrach-lìnn na comhairle (Gaelic school consultation | Argyll and Bute Council (argyll-bute.gov.uk) le tionndaidhean Gàidhlig ri fhaotainn. Bidh an co-chomhairleachadh beò bho 22mh den Ghiblean gu 30mh den Ògmhios 2024.
Bidh an co-chomhairleachadh a’ sireadh bheachdan air iarrtas as coltaiche. Aig an àm seo, chan eil buidsead calpa aig a’ Chomhairle airson Sgoil Ghàidhlig ùr fa leth a thogail agus a stèidheachadh. Ma dh’fhaoidte gum bidh maoineachadh airson Foghlam Gàidhlig ri fhaotainn bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba, ma thig moladh airson Sgoil Ghàidhlig fa leth air adhairt. Bhiodh feum air maoineachadh a bharrachd bhon Chomhairle agus ma dh’fhaoidte gum biodh buaidh aig an seo air buidsead an t-seirbheis foghlaim.
Thuirt An Comhairliche Jim Lynch, Ceannard Chomhairle Earra-Ghàidheal is Bhòid;
“Tha e na dhleastanas oirnn a’ Ghàidhlig adhartachadh agus a’ bhrosnachadh air feadh na sgìre. Tha sinn mar-tha a’ tarigsinn taghadh farsaing de dh’iomairtean is goireasan do chlann agus daoin’ òga gus cuideachadh ann a bhith ag ionnsachadh a’ chànain agus a bhith a’ brosnachadh cleachdadh na Gàidhlig air feadh Earra-Ghàidheal is Bòd.
Mar phàirt den dleastanas a th’oirnn ann a bhith a’ lìbhrigeadh am Plana Gàidhlig, tha sinn a-nis a’ sireadh ar beachdan air feuch a bheil iarrtas ann airson Sgoil Ghàidhlig fa leth. Tha e cudromach a bhith a’ cuir cudrom air puing, gum biodh feum air beachdachadh gu cùramach, ri linn measarrachd air buidseadan aig an àm seo agus an ìre de mhaoineachadh air am biodh feum airson Sgoil Ghàidhlig fa leth, nam biodh iarrtas ann. Tha sinn a’ cuir fàilte air ar beachdan air feuch a bheil ùidh ann an Sgoil Ghàidhlig fa leth ann an Earra-Ghàidheal is Bòd.”
Dè tha ri fhaotainn ann an Earra-Ghàidheal is Bòd aig an àm seo?
- Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig (FTMG). Seo roghainn ann am foghlam na h-Alba a tha a’ toirt cothrom do chlann agus daoin’ òga a bhith fileanta anns a’ Ghàidhlig. Bidh luchd-ionnsachaidh a’ tòiseachadh ann an làraich tràth-ionnsachadh agus cùraim-chloinne no ann am P1. Tha an roghainn seo ri fhaotainn aig an àm seo anns an Òban, An Apainn, Dùn Omhainn, Muile, Tiriodh agus Ìle.
- Gàidhlig mar chuspair do luchd-ionnsachaidh Tha seo air a’ thairgsinn ann am fochair ri cànain nuadh eile ann an Alba anns an aon dhòigh ri bhith a’ teagasg Fraingis agus cànain eile. Anns a’ bhun-sgoil, tha an cothrom ann Gàidhlig a thairgsinn (luchd-ionnsachaidh) mar L2 (a’ tòiseachadh ann am P1) no L3 (a’ tòiseachadh aig àm sam bith eadar P5 agus P7). Bu chòir cothrom a bhith aig na sgoilearan cumail air adhairt le na cànain sin anns an Àrd-sgoil.
- Gàidhlig an aon chuspair air a theagasg tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig.
Tha am Plana Gàidhlig aig Comhairle Earra-Ghàidheal is Bhòid ri fhaotainn air an làrach-lìn
https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-12/GLP_updated_2022-26.pdf