This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Bid to boost Gaelic teacher numbers
29/11/2005
Gaelic version
An innovative package of measures is being introduced to increase Gaelic medium teacher numbers in Scotland to ensure there are sufficient teachers to meet the growing demand.
Accepting the recommendations of the Gaelic Medium Teacher Action Group, Education Minister Peter Peacock said the move would increase routes into Gaelic medium training and make it a more attractive career.
The proposals include:
- Appointing a Gaelic teacher recruitment officer
- Supporting Gaelic speaking teachers to transfer to Gaelic medium, with extra training as required
- Improving promotion prospects for Gaelic medium teachers
- Ending course fees for part-time teacher training students and expanding these courses
- Expanding new routes into Gaelic teacher education
Mr Peacock, who has ministerial responsibility for Gaelic, said:
"Gaelic medium education is one of the great successes in Scottish education. At a time when school rolls are falling, the number of pupils enrolling in Gaelic medium classes is on the up, but we need to go further if we are to ensure Gaelic thrives into the future.
"But we urgently need more teachers to meet the growing demand, particularly at secondary level. And we must tap into the pool of Gaelic-speaking teachers who could teach Gaelic medium but choose not to.
"The measures announced today will make it easier for people to train as Gaelic medium teachers - by increasing the places on offer and seeking to abolish the fees currently charged for part-time courses.
"We'll make Gaelic medium a more attractive option by introducing promotion pathways and language training to help those students or teachers who feel their skills fall short of the required standard.
"Attracting more teachers will be key to securing the continued growth of Gaelic medium education and education will, in turn, secure the language's future.
"I'm confident that these measures, coupled with Glasgow's Gaelic medium secondary and the delivery of secondary subjects by ICT, will ensure that Gaelic medium education continues to help the language survive and thrive."
Action group chairman Matthew MacIver, chief executive and registrar of the General Teaching Council for Scotland, said:
"I am confident that the implementation of the group's recommendations will make a significant difference to the recruitment of Gaelic Medium Education teachers throughout Scotland.
"This report has taken on board the very real needs of the education system in terms of teacher shortages and has produced recommendations that are sensible, realistic and imaginative.
"There was an acceptance by members of the group that Gaelic medium education is absolutely critical for the continuing development of the language. I believe that some of the recommendations and the thinking in this report will be useful when considering other shortage subjects in Scotland."
The group was chaired by Matthew MacIver (GTCS) and the members were: Murdo MacIver (North Lanarkshire Council), Catherine Macaslan (University of Aberdeen). Iain Smith (University of Strathclyde), Bruce Robertson (Highland Council), Duncan Ferguson (Bòrd na Gàidhlig), Bill Maxwell (Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education), Donald Henderson (Scottish Executive Education Department), Douglas Ansdell (Scottish Executive Education Department), Christina Walker (University of Aberdeen), Eoghan Stiubhart, (The Scottish Executive Education Department).
The group's remit was to consider the following areas:
- Promoting Gaelic medium education teacher recruitment
- Gaelic medium education initial teacher education
- Routes into Gaelic medium education
- Resources for Gaelic teaching
There are currently two distance-learning courses offering training for Gaelic medium teachers - based at Aberdeen University and Stornoway's Lews Castle College.
The latest figures show that, in 2004, 253 primary teachers were able to teach through Gaelic but only 159 were currently doing so. In secondary schools, 103 teachers were able to teach through Gaelic but just 42 were doing so.
In 2003/04 there were 1,236 pre-school pupils in Gaelic medium education, 1,972 in primary and 284 in secondary. In addition, there were 2,513 Gaelic learners in secondary school.
Gaelic version
IARRTAS AIRSON BARRACHD THIDSEARAN GÀIDHLIG
Tha pasgan ùr-ghnàthach de cheuman gan thoirt a-steach airson àireamhan thidsearan meadhan-Gàidhlig an Alba a mheudachadh gus dèanamh cinnteach gun coinnichear ris a' mheudachadh anns an iarrtas airson tidsearan.
A' gabhail ri molaidhean Buidheann-gnìomh nan Tidsearan Meadhan-Gàidhlig, thuirt Ministear an Fhoghlaim Peadar Peacock gum biodh an gluasad a' meudachadh nan slighean gu trèanadh meadhan-Gàidhlig agus a' dèanamh an dreuchd nas tarraingiche.
Tha na molaidhean a' gabhail a-steach:
- Oifigear fastaidh airson tidsearan Gàidhlig
- Taic do thidsearan le Gàidhlig airson gluasad thairis gu teagasg meadhan-Gàidhlig, le trèanadh a bharrachd mar a bhios feum air
- Leasachadh comasan àrdachaidh do thidsearan meadhan-Gàidhlig
- Gearradh a-mach nan cìsean cùrsa airson oileanaich air trèanadh thidsear pàirt-ùine agus leudachadh air na cùrsaichean sin
- Leudachadh slighean ùra gu foghlam thidsearan Gàidhlig.
Thuirt Mgr Peacock, am Ministear le uallach airson Gàidhlig:
"'S e foghlam meadhan-Gàidhlig aon de na nithean as motha a shoirbhich ann an foghlam na h-Alba. Ged a tha rolla nan sgoiltean a' dol nas lugha, tha na h-àireamhan de sgoilearan air an clàradh ann an clasaichean meadhan-Gàidhlig a' dol suas, ach feumaidh sinn a dhol nas fhaide gus a bhith cinnteach gum bi a' Ghàidhlig soirbheachail san àm ri teachd.
"Ach feumaidh sinn tuilleadh thidsearan gun dàil gus coinneachadh ris an iarrtas a bhios ann, gu h-àraidh aig ìre àrd-sgoil. Agus feumaidh sinn làmh a chur air na tha ann de thidsearan le Gàidhlig a b' urrainn teagasg tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig ach nach eil ga roghnachadh.
"Bidh na ceuman a chaidh an ainmeachadh an-diugh ga dhèanamh nas fhasa do dhaoine trèanadh mar thidsearan meadhan-Gàidhlig- le bhith a' tairgse barrachd àiteachan agus ag iarraidh cur às do na cìsean a thathar a' pàigheadh air cùrsaichean pàirt-ùine an-dràsta.
"Nì sinn foghlam meadhan-Gàidhlig nas tarraingiche le bhith a' toirt a-steach slighean àrdachaidh agus trèanadh cànain a chuidicheas na h-oileanaich no na tidsearan sin a tha a' faireachdainn nach eil na sgilean aca a' ruigsinn na h-ìre a tha air iarraidh.
"'S e tàladh tuilleadh thidsearan an nì as cudromaiche ann a bhith a' cumail foghlam meadhan-Gàidhlig a' fàs agus, mar sin, foghlam a' cumail a' chànain beò sna bliadhnachan ri teachd.
"Tha mi cinnteach gun dèan na ceuman sin, còmhla ri Àrd-sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu agus teagasg cuspairean san àrd-sgoil tro ICT, cinnteach gun cùm foghlam meadhan-Gàidhlig an cànan beò agus a' soirbheachadh."
Thuirt Mata MacIomhair, cathraiche na Buidhne Gniomh agus Prìomh Neach Clàraidh Comhairle Teagaisg Choitcheann nah-Alba:
" Tha mise misneachail an uair a thèid na molaidhean againn a chur an gnìomh gun tig piseach mhòr air an àireamh luchd-teagaisg a bhios a' teagasg tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig air feadh Alba.
Tha an aithisg seo air a bhith glè mhothachail air prìomh fheumalachdan an siostaim a thaobh gainnead luchd-teagaisg agus air molaidhean a chur air adhart a tha reusanta, inntinneach agus comasach an toirt gu buil.
Bha buill na Buidhne a'gabhail ris gu bheil Foghlam Tro Mheadhan Na Gàidhlig dà rìreabh deatamach a thaobh leasachadh a'chànain. Tha mise den bheachd gum bi cuid de na molaidhean agus den fheallsanachd a tha anns an aithisg seo feumail an uair a thàthas a' beachdachadh air cuspairean eile ann an sgoiltean Alba far a bheil gainnead."
B' e Mata MacÌomhair cathraiche na buidhne (GTCS) le na buill a leanas: Murchadh MacÌomhair (Comhairle Lannraig a Tuath), Catriona Macaslan (Oilthigh Obar Dheathain). Iain Mac a' Ghobhainn (Oilthigh Shrath Chluaidh), Bruce Robertson (Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd), Donnchadh Fearghastan (Bòrd na Gàidhlig), Uilleam Maxwell (Luchd-sgrùdaidh na Banrigh airson Foghlaim), Dòmhnall MacEanraig (Roinn Foghlaim Riaghaltas na h-Alba), Douglas Ansdell (Roinn Foghlaim Riaghaltas na h-Alba), Cairistiona Walker (Oilthigh Obar Dheathain), Eòghan Stiùbhart, (Roinn Foghlaim Riaghaltas na h-Alba).
B' e raon-ùghdarrais na buidhne beachdachadh air na roinnean a leanas:
- Adhartachadh fastadh thidsearan gu foghlam meadhan-Gàidhlig
- Tùs-thrèanadh thidsear airson foghlam meadhan-Gàidhlig
- Slighean gu foghlam meadhan-Gàidhlig
- Goireasan teagaisg Gàidhlig.
Aig an àm seo tha dà chùrsa air astar a' toirt trèanadh airson tidsearan meadhan-Gàidhlig- stèidhichte aig Oilthigh Obar Dheathain agus Colaisde a' Chaisteil an Steòrnabhagh.
Tha na figearan as ùire a' sealltainn gu robh, ann an 2004, 253 tidsearan bun-sgoile comasach air teagasg tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig ach b' e dìreach 159 dhiubh a bha ris aig an àm. Ann an àrd-sgoiltean, bha 103 tidsearan comasach air teagasg tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig ach cha robh ga dhèanamh ach 42.
Ann an 2003/04 bha 1,236 pàiste fo aois sgoile ann am foghlam meadhan-Gàidhlig, 1,972 sa bhun-sgoil agus 284 san àrd-sgoil. Còmhla ri sin, bha 2,513 luchd-ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig san àrd-sgoil.