All primary one pupils in the Western Isles are to be automatically enrolled in Gaelic medium education (GME) from next year. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar – the council for the Western Isles – have
adopted a policy of ‘Gaelic first’ to increase the rate of growth for
Gaelic in the islands.
The 2011 census showed 52 per cent of the population of the Western Isles, aged three and over, spoke Gaelic.
Supporters
welcomed the move, saying it is a reversal of the previous situation
where English was the main language, unless parents asked for their
children to be taught in Gaelic.
Primary and secondary
headteachers and parent councils were informed of the policy in a letter
last week from Bernard Chisholm, the council’s director of education.
Under the new policy, pupils will be taught in Gaelic and will start learning English from P4 onwards.
Parents have the option of opting out and having their children taught in English from P1.
Chisholm said the “Outer Hebrides is a Gaelic speaking community with
a rich Gaelic heritage and culture” and the “majority of our children
in nursery and those enrolling in primary, want to speak our language”.
He said being bilingual was beneficial to children’s academic development and would improve job opportunities.
“A
significant number of families, who move to the area without Gaelic,
enrol their children in GME for the additional benefits of bilingual
education,” he said. “I believe that we all want our children to access
the undoubted benefits that GME provides, in both English and Gaelic, in
terms of reading, thinking skills, problem solving, maths and in many
other areas.
Shona MacLennan, chief executive of Bòrdna Gàidhlig, the principal
public body promoting Gaelic, said: “Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s policy
to have GME as the default choice for pupils entering primary one is a
significant and welcome contribution.
“They, like many public bodies, have a Gaelic language programme.
“In
its most recent plan there is a commitment to increase the number of
pupils entering P1 Gaelic-medium education to 55 per cent by 2020 and
the change to GME as the default choice will support this.”
