Modern Languages Blog

HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) has published its draft Gaelic Language Plan for consultation. The Plan proposes measures to encourage the increased use of Gaelic in four key areas: 

• Identity
• Communications
• Publications
• Staffing

Responses to the consultation on the HMIE’s Draft Gaelic Language Plan can be made to HMIE, Longman House, Longman Road, Inverness, IV1 1SF.  The consultation runs until 27 November 2009.

Copies of the full report are available from: http://www.hmie.gov.uk/Publications.aspx

The Herald: The Scottish Qualifications Authority said only 13 secondary schools out of a total of 376 had registered for the languages qualification by the deadline at the beginning of October – less than 4% of the total.

Read more of this article: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/education/flagship-education-policy-to-revive-science-and-languages-in-tatters-1.925253

The Independent: From now on Scottish Gaelic speakers can write directly to EU bodies in their mother tongue if they wish and receive a reply in that language. Scottish ministers can also speak Scottish Gaelic in meetings with other EU ministers and regional representatives.

The deal was sealed in a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Brussels yesterday by the UK’s EU ambassador, Sir Kim Darroch, and by Donald Henderson, Scotland’s EU director.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/scots-gaelic-becomes-an-eu-language-1799290.html

The Scottish Government has announced there will be more school places and increased resources for Gaelic-medium education across Scotland thanks to investment from the Gaelic Schools Capital Fund.

Minister for Gaelic Michael Russell announced on Friday that Glasgow City Council will receive £500,000 to increase provision in its area and Argyll and Bute Council will benefit from £150,000.

The funding will be used to renovate classrooms in the Glasgow Gaelic School and contribute towards a new modular building which will be installed at Bowmore Primary; both areas which have seen an increased demand for early years places.

 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/09/04112636

From the Scottish Government news: An extra £800,000 for Gaelic education has been announced, bringing Scottish Government investment in the Gaelic Schools Fund to £2.15m this year.

First Minister Alex Salmond made the announcement at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Scotland’s Gaelic college in Skye on his way to the Wstern Isles for a historic first Scottish Cabinet meeting in Stornoway.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/08/03092341

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is pleased to announce that its Draft Gaelic Language Plan is now available for public consultation.

The Gaelic Language Act of 2005 and the National Plan for Gaelic are of fundamental importance in enabling SQA and its partner organisations to plan successfully for a sustainable future for the language, not just in Scotland but on the international stage.

The closing date of the consultation is Thursday 3 September 2009.

SQA news release: Gaelic Language Plan consultation

Scottish Languages Review –  Issue 19 is now available on the Scottish CILT website – Please note new website address (Scottish CILT are now based at the University of Strathclyde):

http://www.strath.ac.uk/scilt/slr/iss/2009/19/

The Scotsman reports: Scottish qualifications have been given another boost as the project element of the new baccalaureate, in schools from August, has been rated as the equivalent of half an Advanced Higher by Ucas.
Read the Scotsman article online

http://news.scotsman.com/education/Boost-for-Scottish-education-as.5412177.jp

More on the Languages baccalaureate from Scottish CILT.

Report of the Scottish Government’s conference on the Scots language held at the University of Stirling on 9 February 2009, which includes the conference agenda, slides from the main presentations, notes from the breakout discussion groups, a copy of the provision reporting form and a list of attendees.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/06/08164441/0

The Herald reports: One in eight of all school children in Scotland’s largest city does not speak English as a first language, new figures show.

Read more on this article: http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2512964.0.English_not_first_language_for_one_in_eight_Glasgow_pupils.php