Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I send my children to Gaelic Medium Education?
Gaelic is a beautiful and vibrant language which has a rich heritage and is fully able to embrace the modern world. Bilingualism is the norm rather than the exception in many countries and research into bilingual education shows that children with two languages usually do better in school than children who have only one language. Gaelic Education is growing, and there are more and more opportunities for people to become involved.
Where can I find out more about Gaelic Education?
If you want more information on pre-school education, then the best thing to do at first is contact Comhairle nan Sgoiltean Àraich (the Gaelic pre-school organisation) or your local authority. It is best to speak to Comann nam Pàrant (the national parents’ organisation) about primary and secondary education in the first instance or your local authority. If you require more information about Higher Education, then you would be best to speak directly to the various colleges and universities. If you want more information on learning Gaelic as an adult, you should speak to Clì Gàidhlig.
Is there a Gaelic unit or school, or a learning centre near me?
You should speak to your local authority with regard to Gaelic schools, however, you can see the latest list of Gaelic schools and units under Primary Education and Secondary Education. You can find more information on other learning opportunities under Adult and Lifelong Learning.
Does it make any difference if parents of Gaelic pupils do not have Gaelic?
This does not matter, as Gaelic Medium Education in the primary school takes all children to fluency. However, some organisations such as CNSA support parents wishing to learn Gaelic, and it is an advantage if parents have Gaelic, even a little.
Where do I find more information on learning as an adult?
A good start would be to speak to Clì Gàidhlig or visit www.learn-gaelic.info. Colleges such as Sabhal Mòr Ostaig run short courses in addition to part- and full-time courses. For more detailed information see Adult and Lifelong Learning.
Will a Gaelic education affect my child’s ability in English?
Not at all. Research in fact shows that Gaelic pupils in primary seven are better at English than their English-only counterparts: “Research carried out by the Scottish Centre for Information on Language Teaching (SCILT) in 1999 suggested that the proportion of Gaelic-medium pupils who reached appropriate national attainment targets for Gaelic at P3, P5 and P7 matched the expectations set out in the 5-14 guidelines for Gaelic. The report also indicated that they did not appear to be disadvantaged, relative to English-medium pupils, in terms of their attainments in English at P5 and P7. Indeed, it suggested that P7 Gaelic-medium pupils performed better in English than English-medium pupils.” (‘Improving Achievement in Gaelic’, HMIe Report 2005).