The Report of the Gaelic Medium Teachers Action Group

A key appointment is needed to drive forward Gaelic teacher recruitment

A Gaelic teacher recruitment officer should be appointed. This appointment could run, in the first instance, for two years, be located within Bòrd na Gàidhlig, and would co-ordinate many of the activities identified in this report.

Expansion of new routes into Gaelic teaching

The Strathclyde/ UHIMI course should be made available from a wider range of partner colleges, particularly Sabhal Mòr Ostaig ( SMO), Colaiste Bheinn na Faoghla and Lochaber College. Aberdeen should extend their distance learning provision to include a programme for secondary teachgers. All of these courses should be effectively promoted in relevant areas as routes into teaching.

Elimination of course fees for students following Initial Teacher Education courses on a part-time basis

Scottish Executive's Enterprise Transport and Lifelong Learning Department should, as soon as possible, revise its policy requiring the payment of fees by part-time teaching students.

Implementation of the General Teaching Council Report on Gaelic medium education

The GTC should seek to take forward, with the education faculties, the implementation of the recommendations in the report 'Teaching in Gaelic Medium Education, Recommendations for Change'.

Bòrd na Gàidhlig should ensure that the supply and training of Gaelic medium education teachers remains a priority

Bòrd na Gàidhlig should ensure that the supply and training of Gaelic medium education teachers remains a priority and features prominently in the National Gaelic Language Plan and the National Gaelic Education Strategy, required by the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005.

Language courses to assist students and teachers

Language courses should be offered to address student and teacher language deficit in order to allow them to progress to Gaelic medium teacher training or teaching.

All Gaelic students to be placed in Gaelic classes

The Scottish Executive should seek to ensure that all Gaelic medium probationers are placed in Gaelic medium classes and the Executive should seek to use the £6000 preference waiver to attract students to priority areas and authorities should seek to ensure probationers continue within Gaelic medium classes.

Support for Gaelic speaking teachers to transfer to Gaelic medium education

The Scottish Executive should continue to support the development of the Sabhal Mòr Ostaig course which would assist teachers to transfer to Gaelic medium and that this should be extended to primary teachers.

Establish promotion pathways for Gaelic teachers at Primary and Secondary

Local authorities should seek to provide promotion opportunities for Gaelic teachers at primary and secondary by considering them for the position of principal teachers and heads of faculty. These posts may serve either one school or a cluster of schools where appropriate.

Support and development of Gaelic Language in the Primary School

The Scottish Executive and local authorities should support the development of Aberdeen's GLPS courses for teachers.

The Scottish Government