A’ Ghàidhealtachd neo-àbhaisteach ann am Foghlam Gàidhlig le àireamhan sgoilearan a’ dol am meud

Chuir Comhairlichean na Gàidhealtachd fàilte air an naidheachd gu bheil àireamhan sgoilearan ann am Foghlam Gàidhlig ann an sgoiltean na Gàidhealtachd a’ dol am meud sa bhliadhna sgoile seo, 2021/2022.

Chaidh innse do Bhuill Comataidh Gàidhlig na Comhairle gun robh àireamhan sgoilearan thar ionadan Tràth-ionnsachaidh Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig air a dhol am meud 7.82%; àireamhan sgoilearan Bun-sgoile FtG air a dhol am meud 2.22%; àireamhan sgoilearan Àrd-sgoile Gàidhlig Fhileantach air a dhol am meud 5.48%, agus sgoilearan Àrd-sgoile Cuspairean tron Ghàidhlig air a dhol am meud 0.35%.

Bhathar an dùil gun deigheadh àireamhan iomlan ann an ionadan Tràth-ionnsachaidh am meud cuideachd, le dùil ri tuilleadh chlàraidhean san Fhaoilleach is sa Ghiblean 2022.

Thuirt an Comhairliche Calum Rothach, Cathraiche Comataidh na Gàidhlig: “Tha na h-àireamhan seo nan adhbhar toileachais agus tha e na adhbhar misneachd gu bheil a’ Ghàidhealtachd air thoiseach a thaobh àireamhan sgoilearan Luchd-ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig gu nàiseanta.

“Tha mi fìor thoilichte dàta sgoilearan Bhòrd na Gàidhlig fhaicinn agus sin a’ toirt am follais gur ann an sgoiltean na Gàidhealtachd a tha 61% de Luchd-ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig ann an àrd-sgoiltean agus tha e na adhbhar misneachd gu bheil an àireamh Luchd-ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig ann an àrd-sgoiltean air fàs mean air mhean anns gach aon de na trì bliadhnaichean a chaidh seachad.

“Tha an deagh adhartas seo na theisteanas air na tha an luchd-obrach againn a’ dèanamh is iad ag obair ann an com-pàirteachas le buidhnean mar Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, le taic mhaoineachaidh bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig agus le taic bho phàrantan is luchd-cùraim.”

’S e fear de na pròiseactan com-pàirteachais seo eadar Sgioba Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus Sabhal Mòr Ostaig ‘Oideas’ – sreath phod-chraolaidhean a tha a’ toirt seachad taic is leasachadh proifeiseanta do dh’oileanaich teagaisg is do thidsearan a tha ag obair ann am Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig.

Tha na sia pod-chraolaidhean rim faighinn air làrach-lìn SMO aig: https://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/oideas/?lang=en. Tha iad ag amas air smaoineachadh, ceistean is fiosrachadh co-roinnte a bhrosnachadh eadar tidsearan Gàidhlig aig am bi, math dh’fhaodte, na h-aon dùbhlain sna seòmraichean-teagaisg aca.

Lean an Comhairliche Rothach air adhart: “Tha mi cuideachd toilichte gu bheil a’ Ghàidhlig a-nis air a lìbhrigeadh tro theagasg air-loidhne do cheithir clasaichean luchd-ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig ÀS1 is ÀS2 aig Àrd-Sgoil Cheann Loch Lìobhann. Tha 53 sgoilearan a’ faighinn buannachd às na seiseanan ùra seo a thathar a’ lìbhrigeadh tro Google Classrooms agus tha oifigearan a’ coimhead air dòighean gus am modail ionnsachaidh seo a leudachadh ann an sgoiltean eile.”

Chaidh innse do Chomhairlichean gum bi tidsearan ann an dà sgoil eile – Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh agus Bun-Sgoil Ullapuil – a’ lìbhrigeadh leasanan co-roinnte air-loidhne, le tidsearan mu seach a’ stiùireadh nan clasaichean. Ma bhios e soirbheachail, ’s dòcha gum bi am modail seo freagarrach do sgoiltean eile cuideachd.

Highland bucks trend in Gaelic Education with pupil numbers on the rise

Increasing numbers of pupils in Gaelic Education in Highland Schools has been welcomed by Highland Councillors for this school year 2021/2022.

Members of the Council’s Gaelic Committee were informed that pupil numbers across Gaelic Medium Education Early Learning settings increased by 7.82%; Gaelic Medium Education Primary pupils by 2.22%; Secondary School Fluent Gaelic Pupils by 5.48%, and Secondary Pupil Subjects through Gaelic by 0.35%.

Early learning centre totals are also predicted to rise with further enrolments due to take place in January and April 2022.

Cllr Calum Munro Chair of the Gaelic Committee said: “These figures are very pleasing and it is encouraging to see that Highland is leading a trend in Gaelic Learner pupil numbers nationally.

“I am delighted to see the Bòrd na Gàidhlig pupil data which highlights that 61% of Gaelic Learners in secondary schools are in our schools in Highland and it is very encouraging to see that the number of Secondary Gaelic Learners in Highland has grown successively in each of the last 3 years.

“This positive progress is testament to the endeavours of our staff working in partnership with organisations such as Sabhal Mòr Ostaig with funding support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig and support from parents and carers.”

One of these partnership projects between Highland Council’s Gaelic Team and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig  is “Oideas” – a series of podcasts providing professional development support for teaching students and teachers working in Gaelic Medium Education.

The 6 podcasts, hosted on Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s website at: https://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/oideas/?lang=en aim to provoke thinking, questions and shared information between Gaelic teachers who face similar challenges in their classrooms.

Cllr Munro added: “I am also pleased to see that Gaelic is now being delivered through online teaching to 4 classes at Kinlochleven High School for S1 and S2 Gaelic learners. Fifty-three pupils are benefitting from these new sessions being delivered through Google Classrooms and officers are looking at ways of expanding this learning model in other schools.”

Councillors were also informed that next term, teachers in two other schools – Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh and Bun-Sgoil Ullapuil – will deliver online shared lessons, with teachers taking turns to lead classes. If successful this model of teaching may also be an option for other schools.