More teachers should be given the opportunity to teach the Gaelic language in Scottish schools according to the Chairman of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Matthew MacIver CBE.

Mr MacIver, who is also Chief Executive of the General Teaching Council for Scotland, was speaking at the Gaelic Learners in the Primary School (GLPS) conference at Stirling University.

Mr MacIver said:

“The survival of Gaelic no longer just depends on the native speaker; it also depends on the learner. Bòrd na Gàidhlig has been charged with increasing the number of Gaelic speakers and much of that increase will depend on how much we motivate and support Gaelic learners and, with this in mind, I see GLPS as being of huge significance in the renaissance of the language.

“I would like to see Professional Recognition given to teachers who are learning to teach Gaelic – one that allows them to begin to teach the language to learners in Primary and Secondary schools.

“This will enable teachers with an interest in the language to be trained to pass this on to their pupils who are also keen to gain some understanding of Gaelic.”

Mr MacIver went on to say:

“GLPS offers an innovative, creative and imaginative way of opening Gaelic to more teachers and to more pupils. 

I see GLPS as a course that has enormous potential in terms of undergraduate students as well as teachers and I believe that the local authorities and the universities now have to engage in a very serious conversation about the future development of GLPS.”

Maureen Watt MSP, Minister for Schools and Skills, said:

“Gaelic is an integral part of Scotland’s culture and the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring its long term viability.  Learners are vital for sustaining the Gaelic language, and I’m pleased that youngsters have the opportunity to learn and use the language from an early age at primary school.  

“GLPS makes a valuable contribution to our efforts to secure the Gaelic language and I hope that more teachers will consider becoming involved in the provision of GLPS, and in turn, that more young people may have the opportunity to benefit from learning the language at such an early stage of their education.”

Also addressing the delegates at the conference was Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s Education Manager, Rosemary Ward who said:

“The enthusiasm and commitment of all the GLPS teachers present here today is commendable. They have chosen to participate in a learning programme in order that they can motivate and encourage children in schools across Scotland to learn Gaelic and appreciate our rich cultural heritage.

“We have been presented with exemplary evidence of the very best in classroom practice with regard to language teaching and I would encourage modern languages colleagues to look to Gaelic education for cutting edge examples of the application of ICT to support pupils’ learning.

“We must now work with local authorities to address the demand for GLPS provision in Scottish schools and extend the pool of suitably trained and qualified teachers able to deliver GLPS.”