Parents across Scotland will be able to ask for a Gaelic school to be established in their area as part of new legislation plans highlighted in Inverness.<\/p>\n
The Scottish Government\u2019s plan is part of ongoing efforts to try to boost Gaelic\u2019s use across the country.<\/p>\n
Kate Forbes at the Gaelic Primary School.<\/p>\n
Under the plans, councils would be expected to assess if parent requests were \u201cpractical and affordable\u201d. After taking advice, ministers might then direct those local authorities to proceed with the establishment of a new Gaelic school if the council’s assessment considers it to be viable.<\/p>\n
Other provisions of the new Scottish Languages Bill<\/a><\/strong> would include the introduction of educational standards for Gaelic and Scots, and the establishment of Gaelic and Scots as official languages.<\/p>\n The bill would also seek to support the creation of areas of \u201clinguistic significance\u201d within Gaelic communities so that ministers can \u201cbetter target policies to support the language\u2019s growth\u201d.<\/p>\n And it would also enable parents in every part of Scotland to apply for Gaelic nursery and early years places for their children.<\/p>\n Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, who is also cabinet secretary for economy and Gaelic, set out the measures on a visit to Bun-Sgoil Gh\u00e0idhlig Inbhir Nis (Inverness Gaelic Primary School).<\/p>\n She was joined by Scotland\u2019s first Gaelic speaking national poet, Dr Peter Mackay, who is also known as the Makar. The visit coincides with the 40th anniversary year of Gaelic medium education in Scotland.<\/p>\n Ms Forbes said: \u201cThis Bill aims to build a strong foundation to support Gaelic\u2019s continued growth following an encouraging increase in Gaelic speakers and learners across Scotland. It would boost Gaelic education provision throughout Scotland and better establish Gaelic and Scots as national languages.<\/p>\n \u201cGaelic medium education enriches communities and offers good value for money. Gaelic medium schools frequently demonstrate above average performance with some local authorities showing better grades across all qualification levels despite costs being no greater than English medium schools.<\/p>\n \u201cTo support the growth of Scotland\u2019s indigenous languages, we are also providing an additional \u00a35.7 million to promote Scots and Gaelic this year.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr Mackay said: \u201cIt\u2019s fantastic to have seen the growth of Gaelic medium education over the last 40 years: it\u2019s something we should be very proud of.<\/p>\n “It\u2019s vital that there\u2019s ongoing support to maintain and develop Gaelic as a community language in the Highlands and Islands and to give people all over the country every chance to learn and speak it \u2013 and also to encourage Scots speakers and communities across Scotland.”<\/p>\n Stage 3 of the Scottish Languages Bill is expected to be considered by MSPs on June 17.<\/p>\n Census statistics<\/a><\/strong> show that 130,161 people in Scotland had some Gaelic skills in 2022, an increase of 43,105 people from 2011. The census shows that 2,444,659 people in Scotland had some Scots skills in 2022, an increase of 515,215 from 2011.<\/p>\n The latest version of the Scottish Languages Bill<\/a><\/strong> is available online.<\/p>\nKate Forbes and Dr Peter Mackay at the Gaelic Primary School.<\/p>\n
Kate Forbes at the Gaelic Primary School.<\/p>\n