This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Gaelic first for Glasgow
21/05/2004
Glasgow's first dedicated Gaelic medium secondary school
got the go ahead today.
Education Minister Peter Peacock told Bòrd na Gàidhlig's
first national conference in Nairn that the Executive
will:
- Meet the bulk of the building costs (£2.75 million)
for Scotland's first dedicated Gaelic medium secondary
school in Glasgow
- Develop a virtual network, using specialist centres
to help pupils throughout Scotland continue their
secondary studies in Gaelic
- Increase specific grant for Gaelic secondary
education
Mr Peacock, who has ministerial responsibility for
Gaelic, said:
"Gaelic medium education is a real success story - pupil
numbers are up and we have more Gaelic medium classes than
ever before. These youngsters will ensure that Gaelic has
the vibrant future that I, and many others, want to
see.
"Throughout Scotland we have a growing generation of
young Gaels who have reaped the benefits of Gaelic medium
primary education. Our challenge has been how to build on
this success and continue to support these pupils as they
move into secondary education.
"By backing plans for a dedicated Gaelic medium
secondary, we are clearly showing our commitment to the
language and it's great news that we now have sufficient
demand for the school.
"Pupils throughout Scotland will also benefit thanks to
the 'virtual' links from specialist centres to meet the
demand for Gaelic subject teaching. I believe that modern
technology will break down barriers so that the numbers in
Gaelic medium secondary education continue to rise."
Bòrd na Gàidhlig chairman Duncan Ferguson said:
"Gaelic Medium Education is a key priority in the
revitalisation and development of Gaelic, and we require a
robust expansion at all levels from pre-school education to
adult immersion.
"There has been a particular bottle-neck in
the development of Gaelic medium secondary provision due to
the scarcity of suitably qualified teachers, course
materials, and also difficulties with class sizes.
"We very much welcome the development of new course
resources, and the dedicated secondary school in Glasgow,
which will help to deliver Gaelic Medium Education at
secondary level to the widest possible community."
Currently, 34 secondary schools offer Gaelic language
classes for fluent speakers. Fifteen also teach other
subjects in Gaelic but provision varies greatly throughout
Scotland - some schools offer various subjects in Gaelic
while, in other areas, pupils progressing from Gaelic
medium primaries only receive Gaelic language.
The Executive is contributing £2.75 million towards
Glasgow City Council's £3.5 million capital costs for the
new school. It will initially house a pre-school and 5-14
school which will develop, year-by-year. to become a full
six-year secondary.
Specific grant totalling £3.1 million is available to
local authorities for Gaelic primary and secondary
education. This is being increased by £250,000 for
secondary education.
The number of pupils (nursery, primary and secondary) in
Gaelic medium education has risen from 2,661 in 2002-03 to
2,879 in 2003-04.
The virtual Gaelic medium secondary project will be
taken forward by a steering group including members from
local authorities, Learning and Teaching Scotland, Scottish
Qualifications Authority, HM Inspectorate of Education and
the General Teaching Council for Scotland.
A number of secondary schools, including the new Glasgow
school, will act as hubs to support national provision.
These centres will work together to develop the Gaelic
medium secondary curriculum.