Gaelic-medium education - What is it?

Gaelic medium education is one of the main ways of achieving or maintaining fluency in Gaelic. This is especially true of children from a non-Gaelic speaking background. Gaelic medium education is open to everyone, those who speak Gaelic and those who do not.

Pupils who are not Gaelic speakers to start with, indeed who come from non-Gaelic speaking homes and communities, can be brought to fluency in the language through what is referred to as immersion. Immersion means that pupils are taught only in Gaelic, while they are doing the usual things that children do in the early years of their education - in playgroup, nursery and primary school. Their teachers utilise all available opportunities to develop pupils' Gaelic skills - through songs, stories, games and especially through structured play.

Gaelic medium education reinforces the language of fluent speakers and also enables them to become fully literate in the language.

Pre-School Education

Pre-school Gaelic medium provision, in the form of playgroups and nurseries, is an important first step in the formal education process.

Many areas have Pàrant agus Pàiste, parent-and-toddler groups, which are usually run by a volunteer committee and may employ a play-leader.

Cròileagan, Gaelic play-groups, are again run by volunteer committees and most employ one or more play-leaders. In some areas Cròileagan groups take the place of nursery provision.

The national body responsible for these pre-schools groups is Comhairle nan Sgoiltean Àraich (CNSA).

Council-run nursery provision is now available in many areas and is normally attached to the school or schools in which the authority offers Gaelic-medium primary education.

Primary Education

Gaelic medium education in the primary school involves the use of the Gaelic language for all learning and teaching, across all subjects in the curriculum, using immersion methods in P1 and P2. English reading and writing are generally introduced from P3 but the principal language of the classroom is Gaelic throughout primary. The aim of Gaelic medium education, through the government's national guidelines, is to take children to the same level of fluency in Gaelic and English by the time they leave primary school. In most instances Gaelic medium education is delivered in Gaelic medium departments within English medium schools but some areas now have Gaelic medium schools.

The number of pupils who are in Gaelic medium education at primary school level has risen from 24 in 1985 in 2 schools to over 2,000 in the school year 2006-2007 in 62 schools.

Secondary Education

Gaelic medium education in secondary ensures continuity in the learning experience of children who have been educated through the medium of Gaelic in the primary school. This enables pupils to become more competent, gaining an understanding of Gaelic as a modern language through which secondary education can be delivered.

Most Gaelic medium pupils are able to study Gaelic for fluent speakers as a subject in secondary school. The Scottish Qualifications Authority currently offers Gaelic - language examinations in a range of subjects including maths, geography and history and several schools offer Gaelic - medium tuition in these subjects.

The Glasgow Gaelic School which opened in August 2006 will offer tuition through Gaelic in all secondary subjects and other schools will benefit from the new curriculum developments and resources on offer.

How effective is Gaelic-medium education?

A report published in 1999 on behalf of the Scottish Executive Education Department stated the following:

"...pupils receiving Gaelic-medium primary education, whether or not Gaelic was the language of their home, were not being disadvantaged in comparison with children educated through English. In many though not all instances they out-performed English-medium pupils and in addition gained the advantage of having become proficient in two languages ".

Prof. Richard Johnstone
The Attainments of Pupils Receiving Gaelic-medium Primary Education in Scotland
Scottish CILT, Stirling University, 1999

The educational benefits of bilingualism are well documented. It is widely accepted that children speaking two languages seem to have a greater facility for handling all aspects of the thought process. Bilingualism can also enhance a child's prospects of successfully learning other languages.

The best evidence we have for the success of GME is its rapid growth in response to parental demand. Parents want it because they see that it works. This year, over 3000 pupils are receiving GME, 701 at pre-school level, 2092 at primary level and 293 at secondary level. Statistics showing the growth of GME at primary level since its inception in 1985 can be viewed here.

Because the education of a child is so important to parents, we understand that many parents will have questions about the system of Gaelic medium education. In order to answer frequently asked questions and reassure parents that GME is a viable option for all, Comann nam Pàrant have produced an information booklet for parents; copies of Fios is Freagairt are available here via the CnaG website.

Community Education Departments at some Local Councils offer support for parents through Gaelic classes and various other activities. Contact your Local Council for details specific to your area. There are also a growing number of opportunities for Gaelic family holidays and an increasing number of resources online e.g. www.gaelic4parents.com