An informal consultation setting out proposals for the future of Gaelic secondary education in the Capital is underway.
The City of Edinburgh Council has been holding discussions with the city’s Gaelic community this past year about how to further develop education provision given the rising Gaelic school rolls in the city across all age groups.
The consultation details proposals for developing Gaelic Medium Education (GME) including:
- Four potential site options for a new Gaelic secondary school with Liberton High School being the preferred choice
- Research outlining the benefits of a standalone school or co-located campus
- Funding implications for the new school
- Next steps including the process for a statutory consultation
Public can access the consultation document online to submit their comments and there will also be two virtual public meetings taking place on 25 November and 30 November which will be webcast.
Once the feedback is analysed it is expected that a report outlining plans for a statutory consultation will go to a meeting of the Education, Children and Families Committee early next year.
Education Convener Cllr Ian Perry said:
We’re committed to expanding high-quality secondary GME in an immersive environment and we’ve been discussing with the GME school communities about the different options for enhancing this provision in the city.
To put forward a credible case to the Scottish Government for funding, we need to identify a preferred option for the future of secondary GME that has the support of our Gaelic community.
We have considered four options for a new secondary GME setting and the benefits and challenges of each are laid out in the consultation. I would urge everyone to take part so interested parties can influence any changes that would follow for a statutory consultation.
Education Vice Convener and Gaelic Champion Cllr Alison Dickie said:
These are exciting times for Gaelic in Scotland’s capital city, and we have a special responsibility to nurture and help cultivate the language as an integral part of our shared heritage and national identity.
The journey we are on has seen us support the flourishing of the language with the publication of our second Gaelic Language Plan, an increase in pupils and a long-term strategy to develop GME.
In order to embed a sustainable future for Gaelic, we will continue to deliver and expand on our fundamental principles of high-quality teaching and commitment to immersive education, regardless of setting.
Education lies at the heart of the regeneration of Gaelic language and culture in Edinburgh. In any scenario, we will look to provide a place for both the school and community to thrive, securing the future of the language as vibrant and visible.
The informal public consultation will close on 11 December.
Tha co-chomhairleachadh neo-fhoirmeil a’ dol air adhart le molaidhean a thaobh foghlam àrd-sgoile Gàidhlig fad-ùine anns a’ phrìomh bhaile.
Tha Comhairle Baile Dhùn Èideann air a bhith a’ cumail chòmhraidhean le coimhearsnachd Ghàidhlig a’ bhaile am-bliadhna mu mar as urrainn dhaibh tuilleadh leasachaidh a dhèanamh air solar foghlaim agus àireamhan chloinne ann an foghlam Gàidhlig ag èirigh anns a’ bhaile thar gach buidheann aoise.
Tha na molaidhean airson a bhith a’ leasachadh Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig (FMG) a’ toirt a-steach:
- Ceithir làraich a dh’fhaodadh a bhith ann airson àrd-sgoil Ghàidhlig ùr, le Àrd-sgoil Liberton ga mheas mar an roghainn as fheàrr
- Rannsachadh a’ mìneachadh buannachdan sgoil fa leth no campus co-shuidhichte
- Buaidh maoineachaidh airson na sgoile ùire
- Na h-ath cheumannan a’ toirt a-steach a’ phròiseas airson co-chomhairle reachdail
Faodaidh muinntir a’ phobaill a’ cho-chomhairle fhaighinn air-loidhne gus na beachdan aca a chur a-steach agus bidh dà choinneamh bhiortail ann cuideachd air 25 Samhain agus 30 Samhain a thèid a chraoladh air an lìon.
Cho luath ’s a thèid na beachdan air ais a sgrùdadh thathar an dùil gun tèid aithisg a mhìnicheas planaichean airson co-chomhairle reachdail gu coinneamh den Chomataidh Foghlaim, Cloinne agus Teaghlaichean tràth an ath-bhliadhna.
Thuirt an Neach-gairm Foghlaim, an Comhairliche Ian Perry:
Tha sinn dealasach a thaobh leudachadh àrd-ìre FMG ann an àrainneachd bogaidh agus tha sinn air a bhith a’ bruidhinn ri coimhearsnachdan sgoile FMG mu na diofar roghainnean airson an solar seo a leasachadh anns a’ bhaile.
Gus cùis earbsach a chur air adhart gu Riaghaltas na h-Alba airson maoineachadh, feumaidh sinn an roghainn as fheàrr leinn a chomharrachadh airson foghlam àrd-sgoile Gàidhlig fad-ùine aig a bheil taic bhon choimhearsnachd Ghàidhlig againn.
Bheachdaich sinn air ceithir roghainnean airson suidheachadh FMG àrd-sgoile ùr agus tha na buannachdan agus na dùbhlain anns gach fear air an comharrachadh sa cho-chomhairle. Mholainn do gach neach pàirt a ghabhail gus am faigh pàrtaidhean le ùidh buaidh a thoirt air atharrachaidhean sam bith a leanadh airson co-chomhairle reachdail.
Thuirt Iar-Neach-gairm Foghlaim, agus Curaidh na Gàidhlig, an Comhairliche Alison Dickie:
Se àm brosnachail a tha seo airson na Gàidhlig ann am prìomh bhaile na h-Alba, agus tha uallach sònraichte oirnn a bhith ag àrach agus a’ cuideachadh le bhith ag àrach a’ chànain mar phàirt riatanach den dualchas cho-roinnte agus den dearbh-aithne nàiseanta againn.
Tha sinne air taic a thoirt do shoirbheachadh a’ chànain le foillseachadh an dàrna Plana Gàidhlig againn, àrdachadh àireamhan sgoilearan agus ro-innleachd fad-ùine airson FMG a leasachadh.
Airson seasmhachd a stèidheachadh airson na Gàidhlig san àm ri teachd, cumaidh sinn oirnn a’ lìbhrigeadh agus a’ leudachadh air na prionnsapalan bunaiteach againn de theagasg math agus dealas airson foghlam bogaidh, ge bith càite bheil e a’ tachairt.
Tha foghlam aig cridhe ath-nuadhachadh cànan agus cultar na Gàidhlig ann an Dùn Èideann. Ann an suidheachadh sam bith, feuchaidh sinn ri àite a sholarachadh don sgoil agus don choimhearsnachd, a’ dèanamh cinnteach gum bi a’ chànain beòthail agus faicsinneach san àm ri teachd.