Tasgadh calpa ga mholadh agus dòigh-obrach ga h-aontachadh airson Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig 3–18

Tha buill Comataidh Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd air fàilte a chur air tabhartas calpa £900 mìle bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba airson tasgadh ann an dà sgoil sa Ghàidhealtachd.

Tha am maoineachadh air a shònrachadh airson Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar (£650 mìle) airson dà sheòmar-teagaisg a bharrachd a bheir an àireamh sheòmraichean-teagaisg gu sia; agus airson togalach ùr bun-sgoile ann an Dùn Bheagan (maoineachadh £250 mìle) de phròiseact a chosgas £12M uile gu lèir.

Chuir Buill fàilte cuideachd air maoineachadh Riaghaltas na h-Alba a chaidh a thoirt seachad roimhe airson obraichean riatanach is leasachaidhean a bha a dhìth gus am biodh e comasach 1140 uair a thìde de Thràth-ionnsachadh is Cùram-chloinne a thoirt seachad do chloinn uile aois 3 is 4, agus clann ion-roghnach aois 2 bhliadhna, bhon Lùnastal am-bliadhna.

Chaidh leasachaidhean a thoirt seachad aig ionadan Tràth-ionnsachaidh is Cùraim-chloinne Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig ann an Àth Tharracail, san Àth Leathann, aig Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis, Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh, Bun-Sgoil Shlèite, Dùn Bheagan, Geàrrloch, Gleann Urchadain, Loch Carrann, Malaig, Baile Ùr an t-Slèibh agus Ullapul.

Thug Comhairlichean fa-near cuideachd gum biodh clasaichean FtG a tha an-dràsta air an tabhann ann am Bun-Sgoil Chnoc na Creige a’ gluasad gu Campas 3-18 ùr ann am Baile Dhubhthaich, a thathar an dùil fhosgladh ann an 2024.

Bhruidhinn Buill cuideachd mu rùn na Comhairle sgrùdadh ion-dhèantachd a choimiseanadh airson coimhead air an dòigh as fheàrr gus leudachadh Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig 3–18 a lìbhrigeadh ann an Inbhir Nis. Dh’fhaodadh toraidhean seo a bhith air an cleachdadh thar na roinne airson foghlam Gàidhlig a leudachadh agus a’ Ghàidhlig fhàs ann an coimhearsnachdan eile na Gàidhealtachd.

Dh’aontaich Comhairlichean gun tèid dòigh-obrach a chleachdadh a bhios a’ dèanamh ath-sgrùdadh air sgrùdaidhean is rannsachadh a th’ ann mar-thà a’ gabhail a-steach, mar eisimpleir, Comann nam Pàrant; gun tèid eacarsaich ‘leasain a chaidh ionnsachadh’ a ghabhail os làimh airson sgìrean is chomataidhean eile; agus gum bi com-pàirteachas le luchd-ùidhe air an taobh a-staigh is air an taobh a-muigh ann cuideachd.

Thuirt an Comhairliche Calum Rothach, Cathraiche Comataidh na Gàidhlig:

“Tha dealas aig Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd Foghlam Gàidhlig a leasachadh an dà chuid tro bhith a’ toirt seachad tasgadh calpa a leithid an £22.5M a chaidh aontachadh na bu tràithe am-bliadhna airson sgoiltean ùra ann an Dùn Bheagan agus san Àth Leathann agus cuideachd tro thasgadh ann an ionadan tràth-ionnsachaidh is cùraim-chloinne.

“Tha sinn taingeil dha-rìribh airson taic Riaghaltas na h-Alba agus airson nan duaisean maoineachaidh a tha iad air a thoirt seachad mu choinneamh nan geallaidhean Gàidhlig againn, agus cuideachd airson taic bho chom-pàirtichean is bho bhuidhnean a leithid Comann nam Pàrant is eile.”

Thuirt Rùnaire an Fhoghlaim Shirley-Anne Somerville:

“Tha sinn dealasach n-ar taic don Ghàidhlig agus dhaibhsan a tha airson an cànan ionnsachadh. Tha sinn ag aithneachadh obair Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd gus cothroman do dhaoine òga fhàs san sgìre aca agus tha sinn toilichte cuideachadh le leudachadh foghlam Gàidhlig ann an Dùn Bheagan is Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar.”

Thuirt Cathraiche Comataidh Foghlaim na Comhairle, an Comhairliche Iain MacFhionnlaigh:

“Tha sinn fada an comain Riaghaltas na h-Alba airson na taic a tha iadsan a’ toirt dhuinne airson taic a chur ri Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig agus tha sinn a’ cur luach air a’ chom-pàirteachas againn leis an Riaghaltas, a tha an dà chuid a’ cumail suas is a’ leasachadh Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig. Tha seo cuideachd a’ cur taic ris an inbhe againn mar an t-ùghdarras a tha a’ tabhann foghlam Gàidhlig ann am barrachd ionadan na ùghdarras sam bith eile.”

Capital investment commended and approach agreed for 3-18 Gaelic Medium Education

A £900K capital grant from the Scottish Government for investment in two Highland schools has been welcomed by Members of The Highland Council’s Gaelic Committee.

The funding has been allocated to Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar (£650K) for a 2-classroom extension increasing the number of classrooms to 6; and for a new primary school building at Dunvegan (£250K funding) of a total £12M project.

The new extension at Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar with Ben Nevis in the rear.

Members also welcomed Scottish Government funding previously awarded for essential works and improvements required to enable 1140 hours a year Early Learning and Childcare for all 3, 4 and eligible 2-year-olds from August this year.

Improvements were provided at Gaelic Medium Early Learning Childcare settings in Acharacle, Broadford, Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis, Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Righ, Bun-Sgoil Shlèite, Dunvegan, Gairloch, Glenurquhart, Lochcarron, Mallaig, Newtonmore and Ullapool.

Relocation of Gaelic Medium classes currently delivered in Craighill Primary School to the new 3-18 Campus in Tain (which is planned to open in 2024) was also noted by Councillors.

Members also discussed the Council’s intention to commission a feasibility study to look at how best to deliver the expansion of 3-18 Gaelic Medium Education in Inverness, findings of which could be adopted across the region to expand Gaelic education and grow Gaelic in other Highland communities.

Councillors agreed an approach that will review existing studies and research including that for example by Comann nam Pàrant; undertake a ‘lessons learned’ exercise for other areas and countries; and include engagement with internal and external stakeholders.

Cllr Calum Munro, Chair of the Gaelic Committee said:

“Highland Council is committed to the development of Gaelic Education both through the provision of capital investment such as the £22.5M agreed for new schools at Dunvegan and Broadford earlier this year and also through investment in early learning and childcare settings.

“We are extremely grateful for the Scottish Government’s support and for their funding awards in our Gaelic commitments and the support also from partners and organisations such as Comann nam Pàrant among others.”

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:

“We are committed to supporting Gaelic and those who wish to learn the language. We recognise the work that Highland Council is doing to increase the opportunities for young people in its area and we are pleased to help with the expansion of Gaelic education at Dunvegan and Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar.”

Chair of the Council’s Education Committee, Cllr John Finlayson added:

“Support from the Scottish Government to support Gaelic Medium Education is greatly appreciated and we value our partnership with the Government to both sustain and develop Gaelic Medium Education across Highland while also supporting our status as the authority that offers Gaelic education in more settings than any other authority.”