A national conference developed by Holyrood magazine examining the future sustainability of Gaelic Medium Education will take place in Edinburgh on 17 November 2010.
Highlights of the day will include Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Mike Russell MSP delivering a keynote presentation on the Scottish Government’s vision for Gaelic Medium Education and the launch of a much anticipated report on attainment and choice in Gaelic Medium Education. Fiona O’Hanlon, Dr. Wilson McLeod and Professor Lindsay Paterson of the University of Edinburgh who conducted the Bòrd na Gàidhlig-funded research will be on hand to answer attendees’ questions on their research findings.
If you would like further details or to confirm your place, please visit holyrood.com/gaelic

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.

The new appointment of Arthur Cormack to Bord na Gaidhlig has been welcomed by the Cultural Minister Michael Russell, who is also going to announce the bord’s new Chief Executive in the next few months.

Arthur Cormack is a well known figure in Gaelic circles with many interests within the Arts community and  sees Gaelic as being in an “era of opportunity and goodwill”.  He is keen to develop “innovative ways of enabling current and future generations of Gaelic speakers to use the language in a variety of situations”.

This can only be good for the campaign for a Gaelic School in Edinburgh as the most progressive way of developing a future generation of fluent Gaelic speakers in the East Coast.

Yesterday the Scottish Govt debated its Gaelic Language Plan.  This debate proved something of a landmark for Gaelic.  Not only has the Govt set out its position and commitment to Gaelic, but key spokespersons from all parties are now on public record expressing strong support for Gaelic – including educational provision.

The most exciting development came in the form of Pauline McNeill’s amendment which offers a formal resolution of the Scottish Parliament – passed unanimously – calling for expansion of Gaelic Medium Education. It isn’t binding in any direct sense, but it is endorsement at the very highest level.  As such it is a powerful statement of policy principle with we hope other bodies will take into account when formulating and developing their policies on GME.