Gaelic Teacher / Pupil Ratio in Highland Region Petition
22/06/10
http://aireamhan.epetitions.net/
As you may be aware Highland Council are currently proposing to equalise Gaelic Medium teacher / pupil ratios with those of English Medium Education. Gaelic Medium pupils have special requirements with regard to their immersion in the language, and with regard to the different levels of fluency in the language that pupils have when they enter Primary 1. Gaelic Medium Education does not enjoy anywhere near the same level of teaching resources and materials as English Medium Education, and children in Gaelic Medium Education are taught the relevant language skills for both Gaelic and English, adding another layer to their education and to the workload of the teachers.
Gaelic Medium Education is a different means of education, with different requirements. Highland Council is going to save a sum less than £200,000 by this action. However, the saving will have a very damaging effect on Gaelic Medium Education. Schools will lose teachers, and the remaining teachers in those schools will have to take much larger composite classes, and these classes will have significant numbers of pupils ranging through Primaries 1,2,3 and 4 (and possibly higher) together in one class in some instances. This will impact upon the quality of teaching and support they receive, and it is in Primary 4 in Gaelic Medium Education that pupils begin to be taught English language skills. This will result in the younger children in Primaries 1,2 and 3 no longer being fully immersed in the classroom, as their teacher will be also teaching English language skills to their Primary 4 classmates.
Highland Council receives a specific grant for Gaelic Education from the Scottish Government each year to help establish and expand Gaelic Medium Education, but this decision flies completely in the face of these principals. Also, the Scottish Government is currently holding a consultation on primary school class sizes and ratios in Scotland, and there is a specific question on Gaelic Medium Education in this consultation. Would it not be wise for Highland Council to await the results of this consultation before they make any decision on Gaelic Medium Education ratios?
In the end, this equalisation will result in a small saving for Highland Council, but could do untold damage to Gaelic Medium Education in the region, at a time when Gaelic education is in need of encouragement and hope.
Please sign this petition, and ask Highland Council to reverse their decision, which will have such an adverse impact on the brilliant work they have done for Gaelic over the years.
If you are a parent/guardian of a Gaelic Medium Education pupil, can you please add the word ‘parent’ in brackets after your name.
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