What a week it’s been for Gaelic Medium Education.  First came a front page article in the Herald & Post discussing the recent HM Inspectorate of Education Report on Tollcross Primary School and then yesterday, an article in the Evening News highlighted the demand from Edinburgh parents for GME, the commitment of the Scottish Government to the language along with the benefits of bilingualism.

In the HMIE Report, Tollcross Primary School was awarded top marks.  The progress of children learning through the medium of Gaelic was highlighted along with the fact that they reach attainment levels in core subjects at an earlier stage than average.

The article in the Evening News expanded on this success by pointing out the popularity of Gaelic Medium Education with Edinburgh parents, the commitment to saving this part of Scotland’s heritage by the Scottish Government and the international recognition awarded to the benefits that bilingualism offers children.

There are critics who argue against investing money in the Gaelic Language, but the facts are beginning to speak for themselves.  Children who grow up speaking two languages benefit in a number of ways academically so it’s no wonder a growing number of parents want to involve their children at the earliest age: Gaelic Medium Education starts at age 3 where children are immersed for 2 and a half hours each afternoon in the language.

A victim of its own success, the Gaelic Medium Unit at Tollcross is now creaking at the seams.  Glasgow has set the standard and proven that a dedicated school is the model to develop rather than a second Gaelic Medium Unit within the city.  The City of Edinburgh Council are to be commended for their exemplary leadership in this educational success along with the Scottish Government who have stood by their commitment to the language.  It is interesting times indeed for this language and for the next generation who are reaping the benefits of this education linguistically, culturally and academically.