First primary teachers graduate from new Highlands and Islands course

17th June 2014

18 students are the first to graduate from the University of the Highlands and Islands' professional graduate diploma in (primary) education.

The new qualification allows students to complete their training in the Highlands and Islands. Students who are fluent in Gaelic also have the option to complete the diploma through the medium of Gaelic and work in a Gaelic-medium primary school.

This first cohort has met the General Teaching Council for Scotland’s standard for provisional registration and can start their year as a probationary teacher in a Scottish primary school.

Professor Matthew MacIver, chair of the university court and former chief executive of the General Teaching Council for Scotland, who met the students at their last residential workshop in Inverness, said: "It was a great privilege to talk to this special group of new teachers because they represent another milestone for the University of the Highlands and Islands. They are the first teachers who will graduate from the university since it became an accredited provider of initial teacher education in Scotland.

“This first step has huge significance for potential teachers throughout the Highlands and Islands who can now study for their PGDE qualification in their own home university. This is indeed a historic moment not just for the university but for the teaching profession in Scotland".

The course is being delivered at Inverness College UHI, Moray College UHI, Orkney College UHI and Lews Castle College UHI in Stornoway.

Applications for August 2014 entry can be made through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry service. Candidates must have a relevant undergraduate degree as well as current experience of working with children.

Ian Minty, PGDE (primary) programme leader said: “From Orkney to Fort William and from Lewis to Elgin these 18 students will start their new careers in August and begin to impact in their local communities. It is a most exciting time for initial teacher education in the Highlands and Islands; and in the coming year our numbers will double to 40 students, including six who will be following the Gaelic pathway.”

To find out more about the professional graduate diploma in (primary) education, visit www.uhi.ac.uk/en/courses/pgde-primary-teaching or call the university’s course line on 0845 272 3600.

Gaelic
Is iad 18 oileanaich na ciad cheumnaichean bhon dioplòma cheumnachaidh phroifeiseanta ann am foghlam (bun-sgoile) aig Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean.

Tha an teisteanas ùr a’ leigeil le oileanaich an trèanadh aca a thoirt gu buil sa Ghàidhealtachd is na h-Eileanan. Tha roghainn aig oileanaich a tha fileanta sa Ghàidhlig an dioplòma a dhèanamh tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig agus a bhith ag obair ann am bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig.

Choinnich a’ chiad bhuidheann seo ri inbhe Chomhairle Teagaisg Choitcheann na h-Alba airson clàrachadh sealach agus faodaidh iad tòiseachadh air a’ bhliadhna phròbhaidh aca mar thidsearan ann am bun-sgoil ann an Alba.

Thuirt an t-Àrd-Ollamh Mata MacÌomhair, cathraiche cùirt an oilthigh agus ceannard a bh’ ann air Comhairle Teagaisg Choitcheann na h-Alba, a choinnich ris na h-oileanaich aig a’ bhùth-obrach chòmhnaidheach mu dheireadh aca ann an Inbhir Nis: “Is e urram mòr a bh’ ann dhomh bruidhinn ris a’ bhuidheann shònraichte seo de thidsearan ùra leis gu bheil iad a’ riochdachadh clach-mìle eile airson Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean. Is iad na ciad thidsearan a cheumnaicheas bhon oilthigh bhon a chaidh a bharantachadh mar bhuidheann-sholarachaidh bharantaichte de dh’fhoghlam thidsearan an Alba.

“Tha a’ chiad cheum seo air leth cudromach do thidsearan a b’ urrainnear trèanadh air feadh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean agus comas aca a-nis teisteanas PGDE a dhèanamh aig an oilthigh san sgìre aca fhèin. Is e mòmaid eachdraidheil a th’ ann an seo gu dearbh, chan ann a-mhàin don oilthigh ach do cheàird an teagaisg ann an Alba”.

Thathas a’ lìbhrigeadh a’ chùrsa aig Colaiste Inbhir Nis UHI, Colaiste Mhoireibh UHI, Colaiste Arcaibh UHI agus Colaisde a’ Chaisteil UHI ann an Steòrnabhagh.

Faodar iarrtasan a dhèanamh airson inntrigeadh san Lùnastal 2014 tro sheirbheis Clàr Trèanaidh nan Tidsearan Ceumnachaidh. Feumaidh fo-cheum iomchaidh agus eòlas air obair le clann a bhith aig tagraichean.

Thuirt Ian Minty, stiùiriche a’ phrògraim: “Bho Arcaibh dhan Ghearasdan agus bho Leòdhas gu Eilginn, tòisichidh na h-oileanaich seo anns na h-obraichean ùra aca san Lùnastal agus tòisichidh iad a bhith a’ toirt buaidh air na coimhearsnachdan ionadail aca. Is e àm air leth brosnachail a th’ ann airson tùs fhoghlam thidsearan air a’ Ghàidhealtachd agus anns na h-Eileanan; agus anns na bliadhnaichean a tha romhainn dùblachaidh na h-àireamhan againn gu 40 oileanach, a’ gabhail a-steach sianar air slighe na Gàidhlig.”

Airson barrachd fiosrachaidh mun dioplòma cheumnachaidh phroifeiseanta ann am foghlam (bun-sgoile), tadhail air www.uhi.ac.uk/en/courses/pgde-primary-teaching no fòn loidhne chùrsaichean an oilthigh 0845 272 3600.