Scottish Government consultation – closed 17th November 2022
Scottish Government Commitments
The Scottish Government has made a number of commitments to the Gaelic and Scots languages. Among these there are four key commitments which can be regarded as particularly significant with the other commitments falling under these broad areas. The four key commitments are: to establish a new strategic approach to GME, to explore the creation of a Gàidhealtachd, to review the structure and functions of Bòrd na Gàidhlig (BnG), and to take action on the Scots language. Where primary legislation is needed for these, the commitment to a Scottish Languages Bill could serve as the legislative vehicle that will enable progress to be made with these commitments.
The commitments above do not specifically mention MG ALBA but we are aware that the wide and diverse contribution of MG ALBA adds value to a number of important areas of Gaelic activity. The Scottish Government’s support for MG ALBA has enabled this body and BBC ALBA to add to Gaelic learning, arts, community activity, skills and the economy. For this reason we would expect that MG ALBA will feature prominently in these discussions.
Response from the City of Edinburgh Council
Gaelic Medium Education
Consultation Questions
- Thinking of barriers, obstacles and solutions – What are the key aspects you feel should be included in a new strategic approach to Gaelic medium education?
- What steps do you think should be taken to support and promote Gaelic education and to ensure that any new strategic approach to GME is implemented?
- Are there any other points you would like to make about the provision of Gaelic medium education and Gaelic learner education in Scottish education?
Overview
As appears to be the case across many Scottish local authorities, within our context, GME and engagement with Gaelic language and culture have been growing in recent years and there is evidence of increased interest in and demand for these services in the community. Accordingly, the range of services provided by local authorities through the medium of Gaelic has increased substantially in recent years. While recognising current financial constraints, to sustain and further expand this provision, local authorities will need additional and sustainable resource support.
The workstreams of the Faster Rate of Progress Network recognise and go some way to addressing the evolving needs of local authorities developing GME provision. We would welcome the continuation and development of this network. As the landscape continues to evolve at a pace, a robust analysis and evaluation of needs and strengths, including ITE, across the diverse range of contexts where GME is offered in Scotland, would be a very useful exercise. Carried out in close collaboration with local authorities and in step with national conversations around wider education reform, this would support the establishment of achievable, measurable goals.
School staffing
The recruitment and retention of skilled, confident teaching and support staff, able to develop and maintain high-quality immersive learning environments, across a broad curriculum, is our major hurdle. To this end, we would welcome a strategic approach to developing and funding workforce planning at national level. This would encompass professional development across the GME workforce:
- Opportunities for young people in schools to embrace diverse pathways into GME careers reflected in the curriculum.
- Support for high-quality ITE provision available through establishments across Scotland and connected to local authority schools.
- Access to high-quality, career-long professional learning, locally and nationally, planned in collaboration with practising professionals, partner institutions and local authorities.
- Support for the development of locally-based opportunities for staff to enhance Gaelic language skills and immersive pedagogy, suited to the needs and working patterns of schools.
Resources
The reality of the prevailing financial climate calls for creative approaches to maximising available resource. To this end, we would welcome increased and strengthened opportunities for collaboration across local authorities, school settings and wider partner institutions. Support for greater use of digital capacity to enhance the curriculum, such as Esgoil and Storlann digital resources, would assist improvement of the learner experience.
Culture and Partnerships
It is imperative that we recognise that for GME to be successful, children and young people should be supported to develop a strong sense of Gaelic identity, community and culture. Learners need access to opportunities for rich engagement with language and culture in and beyond the classroom, as well as exposure to pathways into careers involving Gaelic language and culture. To support this, local authorities need to be able to build sustainable networks with a wide range of partner organisations. Stable and sustainable funding for officers able to drive and coordinate activity at local and regional level, such as the Capital Gaelic Development Officer model, will be vital to future success.
Collaborative planning
Where there are plans for consultation on development and/or expansion of GME, we would recommend that Scottish Government work in close collaboration with local authorities and stakeholders to ensure expectations and commitments are aligned.
Gàidhealtachd
- Do you have views on what measures should be in place to support Gaelic speakers in areas with significant numbers of speakers?
- Do you have views on how such areas should be defined?
- How would you balance the commitment to put measures in place in areas where there are significant Gaelic speakers with the principle that Gaelic should be a national language for all of Scotland?
- Are there any further points you would like to make about the commitment to explore the creation of a Gàidhealtachd and the associated commitments relating to Gaelic use in family and community?
We fully recognise the very real need for Gaelic language and culture to be supported and encouraged in the Highland and Island communities and would welcome opportunities to engage in partnership work that would benefit these communities and provide valuable links for citizens in Edinburgh. We support the notion that Gaelic is for the whole of Scotland and so strongly believe it is essential that thriving mainland, urban and central belt communities are supported to the same extent as traditional Highland and Island communities. Should significant distinctions be made between communities, there is an increased risk of Gaelic being marginalised in some areas, and perhaps more specifically in the lowlands. Accordingly, resourcing needs to be aligned to local objectives, with each area assessed on its own merits. There is currently a greater number of funded officers in island communities per head of the population; this is a concern as if it continues, mainland communities will not receive a proportionate level of support. There needs to be explicit recognition of the distinct communities in Scotland with their own opportunities, needs and challenges.
Bòrd na Gàidhlig
Consultation responses are invited on the question of a review of the structure and functions of Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
- Do you have any views on the current duties of Bòrd na Gàidhlig and any suggestions of how these could operate more effectively or efficiently?
- Do you have any views on structural changes at Bòrd na Gàidhlig which could strengthen the promotion of and support for Gaelic in Scotland?
- Are there any further points you would like to make about the review of the functions and structure of Bòrd na Gàidhlig which seeks to ensure Scotland has the most effective leadership body and network of organisations for the promotion of Gaelic?
We have responded in detail to the consultation on BnaG draft GLP and that response sets out our views in detail. Within the context of this consultation, the following points are those we consider to be of greatest relevance.
Support
We have welcomed support from, and opportunities to tap into the expertise of, BnaG colleagues over the past years and months. Assistance navigating complicated funding mechanisms has been particularly welcome. We appreciate that BnaG are involved with a wide variety of Gaelic activity across Scotland and that this is a sizeable undertaking for a relatively small and centralised team. Perhaps a network of more locally based officers would provide additional capacity to the team and make operating across such a diverse landscape more effective and efficient. The Regional Collaborative framework could provide a useful starting point for reorganisation along these lines. Encouraging a partnership approach at regional level would support a more streamlined approach to the implementation of plans, enabling more effective embedding of Gaelic activity in specific local communities.
Local democracy
Our understanding is that BnaG is tasked with offering support to public bodies in creating and implementing their GLPs. As such, we feel it is important that the Gaelic language planning framework should reflect local circumstances and priorities, which can only be achieved through context-specific, locally agreed plans. Each public body should feel able to consider and identify their own goals and targets within the broad framework of priorities set for Scotland as a whole. To better support local democracy, the adoption of an approach which is more place-based, recognising local circumstances, would be preferable to one which can at times feel rather heavy-handed and inflexible.
Funding
We would encourage the Scottish Government to reconsider the processes through which public bodies must apply for funding for activity related to their GLPs. Current arrangements which require applications to be submitted to BnaG should be reviewed and simplified: the current process is cumbersome and time-consuming and funding criteria are not sufficiently clear. One year funding is not fit for purpose as it does not allow us to build in sustainability and gives no opportunity for robust strategic planning to encourage the development and embedding of initiatives and roles. The effective, efficient implementation of a carefully crafted LA GLP, which is needed if we are expected to drive forward the ambitions of the national plan, must be underpinned by adequate and sustainable Scottish Government funding.
Scots Language
Key Scots Bodies
The Scots Language Centre: The Scots Language Centre (SLC) receives funding from the Scottish Government to provide information and advice on Scots, raise awareness of and promote the use of the Scots language, culture and education.
Dictionaries of the Scots Language: The Scottish Government funds the Dictionaries of the Scots Language which is responsible for the major dictionaries of the Scots Language and undertakes a wide range of educational outreach work with people of all ages and abilities. Association of Scottish Literature: The Association of Scottish Literature (ASL) also receives funding from the Scottish Government.
Scots Hoose: Scots Hoose is the leading provider of free online Scots language education resources for schools. In 2022/23, the Scottish Government will provide funding to Scots Hoose;
Scots Radio/Doric Film Festival: The Scottish Government provides funding to Scots Radio, Scottish Book TrustIn 2018, the Scots publication grant was launched, funded by the Scottish Government and delivered by the Scottish Book Trust. It was created to support Scots publishers and encourage Scots writers.
The Commitment to Scots: The commitment to a Scottish Languages Bill will be the key legislative vehicle for delivery of any changes to primary legislation which may be needed to deliver the commitments on the Scots language and multilingual recognition..
Consultation responses are invited on the question of support for the Scots language.
- Thinking of the work of the key Scots bodies as referred to in the paper – What are your views on the work of the Scots bodies? How would you strengthen and add to the work of these bodies?
- What are your views on the next steps that should be taken to support the Scots language?
- Are there any further points you would like to make about the commitment to support the Scots language?
We welcome the inclusion of Scots and would encourage an approach that builds on the work and expertise of bodies that are already in place and receiving support. There are implications for delivery which would need to be considered, such as how activities for Scots
would be resourced, prioritised and aligned. In terms of schools, we would welcome support and resource to enable us to embed Scots within existing curriculum offers through IDL programmes. Equal emphasis on both languages at Scottish Government level would strengthen all activity around Scots. It does not currently carry the same prominence as Gaelic, nor the same resource.
Your response ID is ANON-HEFY-KM9D-1.