Interesting view from Arthur Cormack Bòrd na Gàidhlig Chair in the latest issue of Holyrood Magazine:

Where he recognises that there is sufficient demand to open new schools in Edinburgh, Barra and Stornoway, he is also hopeful that Edinburgh will deliver more for Gaelic Medium Education stating that too often these developments come as the result of the huge effort and organisation of parents. Cormack wants to see a legal right to Gaelic Medium Education for any parent who wishes it for their child stating:

“In some cases local authorities have actually asked the parents to almost write the business case and the sustainability and everything else for the school and really, that’s the local authority’s job. A lot of pressure is put on parents at the moment if they want Gaelic education, for them to come up with the plan that shows that the whole thing is sustainable. So I think a legal right would put the onus back on the local authority.”

But in these straitened financial times, can councils really be expected to invest in Gaelic education? Well, after the initial set-up costs and teacher training, Gaelic education becomes mainstream activity and sustainable and in any case, given the value of the language to Scotland’s culture, education and economy, the question for Cormack and our Councils/Parliament is not how can we afford to invest in Gaelic education but how can we afford not to?