Would you like to see an all-Gaelic School in ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute?
That’s the question ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ 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 ³Òà ¾±»å³ó±ô¾±²µ, one of the agreed actions is to hold a consultation to gauge interest in an all-Gaelic School.
Action 2.11 of the agreed ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute Gaelic Language Plan sets out that:
“¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ will engage fully and constructively with Bòrd na ³Òà ¾±»å³ó±ô¾±²µ, 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.â€
Schools across ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute will issue Information on the consultation. It will also be shared on the council website (Gaelic school consultation | ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ (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 ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ 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 ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ 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 ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute.â€
What is currently available in ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ 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.
¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥â€™s Gaelic Language Plan is available on the website /sites/default/files/2023-12/GLP_updated_2022-26.pdf
A’ Chomhairle a’ sireadh bheachdan air Sgoil Ghà idhlig fa leth airson Earra-Ghà idheal is Bòd
A bheil thu airson Sgoil Ghà idhlig fa leth fhaicinn ann an Earra-Ghà idheal is Bòd?
Sin a cheist a tha Comhairle Earra-Ghà idheal 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’ Ghà idhlig.
Tha dleastanas air a’ Chomhairle tro Achd na ³Òà ¾±»å³ó±ô¾±²µ (Alba) 2005 Plana ³Òà ¾±»å³ó±ô¾±²µ ullachadh agus fhoillseachadh. Mar phà irt den phlana seo, ùghdarraichte le Bòrd na ³Òà ¾±»å³ó±ô¾±²µ, ‘s e aon de na gnìomhan, co-chomhairleachadh a chumail gus beachdan a shireadh air an ìre dh dh’ùidh ann an Sgoil Ghà idhlig fa leth.
Tha gnìomh 2.11 anns a’ Phlana ³Òà ¾±»å³ó±ô¾±²µ a’ mìneachadh na leanas:
“Obraichidh Comhairle Earra-Ghà idheal is Bhòid gu buileach agus gu cuideachail le Bòrd na ³Òà ¾±»å³ó±ô¾±²µ, mar bhuidheann comhairleachaidh air foghlam ³Òà ¾±»å³ó±ô¾±²µ, agus luchd-ùidhe eile (a’ gabhail a-steach pà rantan is riochdairean phà rantan) le beachd air a bhith a’ gluasad air adhairt, taobh a-staigh dà bhliadhna, co-chomhairleachadh gus deimhinneachadh air iarrtas airson sgoil Ghà idhlig fa leth anns an sgìre ùghdarrais ionadail.â€
Bidh sgoiltean air feadh Earra-Ghà idheal is Bòd a’ sgaoileadh fiosrachadh mu-dheidhinn an co-chomhairleachadh. Bidh e cuideachd ri fhaotainn air là rach-lìnn na comhairle (Gaelic school consultation | ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ (argyll-bute.gov.uk) le tionndaidhean ³Òà ¾±»å³ó±ô¾±²µ ri fhaotainn. Bidh an co-chomhairleachadh beò bho 22mh den Ghiblean gu 30mh den Ã’gmhios 2024.
Bidh an co-chomhairleachadh a’ sireadh bheachdan air iarrtas as coltaiche. Aig an à m seo, chan eil buidsead calpa aig a’ Chomhairle airson Sgoil Ghà idhlig ùr fa leth a thogail agus a stèidheachadh. Ma dh’fhaoidte gum bidh maoineachadh airson Foghlam ³Òà ¾±»å³ó±ô¾±²µ ri fhaotainn bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba, ma thig moladh airson Sgoil Ghà idhlig 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-Ghà idheal is Bhòid;
“Tha e na dhleastanas oirnn a’ Ghà idhlig 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’ chà nain agus a bhith a’ brosnachadh cleachdadh na ³Òà ¾±»å³ó±ô¾±²µ air feadh Earra-Ghà idheal is Bòd.
Mar phà irt den dleastanas a th’oirnn ann a bhith a’ lìbhrigeadh am Plana ³Òà ¾±»å³ó±ô¾±²µ, tha sinn a-nis a’ sireadh ar beachdan air feuch a bheil iarrtas ann airson Sgoil Ghà idhlig 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 à m seo agus an ìre de mhaoineachadh air am biodh feum airson Sgoil Ghà idhlig fa leth, nam biodh iarrtas ann. Tha sinn a’ cuir fà ilte air ar beachdan air feuch a bheil ùidh ann an Sgoil Ghà idhlig fa leth ann an Earra-Ghà idheal is Bòd.â€
Dè tha ri fhaotainn ann an Earra-Ghà idheal is Bòd aig an à m seo?
- Foghlam tro Mheadhan na ³Òà ¾±»å³ó±ô¾±²µ (FTMG). Seo roghainn ann am foghlam na h-Alba a tha a’ toirt cothrom do chlann agus daoin’ òga a bhith fileanta anns a’ Ghà idhlig. Bidh luchd-ionnsachaidh a’ tòiseachadh ann an là raich trà th-ionnsachadh agus cùraim-chloinne no ann am P1. Tha an roghainn seo ri fhaotainn aig an à m seo anns an Ã’ban, An Apainn, Dùn Omhainn, Muile, Tiriodh agus ÃŒle.
- ³Òà ¾±»å³ó±ô¾±²µ mar chuspair do luchd-ionnsachaidh Tha seo air a’ thairgsinn ann am fochair ri cà nain nuadh eile ann an Alba anns an aon dhòigh ri bhith a’ teagasg Fraingis agus cà nain eile. Anns a’ bhun-sgoil, tha an cothrom ann ³Òà ¾±»å³ó±ô¾±²µ a thairgsinn (luchd-ionnsachaidh) mar L2 (a’ tòiseachadh ann am P1) no L3 (a’ tòiseachadh aig à m sam bith eadar P5 agus P7). Bu chòir cothrom a bhith aig na sgoilearan cumail air adhairt le na cà nain sin anns an Àrd-sgoil.
- ³Òà ¾±»å³ó±ô¾±²µ an aon chuspair air a theagasg tro mheadhan na ³Òà ¾±»å³ó±ô¾±²µ.
Tha am Plana ³Òà ¾±»å³ó±ô¾±²µ aig Comhairle Earra-Ghà idheal is Bhòid ri fhaotainn air an là rach-lìn