New opportunities for Gaelic learners

10th October 2013

£100,000 for education projects across Scotland.

Projects to help Gaelic learners at every level improve their language skills are to share more than £100,000.

Minister for Scotland’s Languages Alasdair Allan made the funding announcement ahead of the Royal National Mòd festival getting underway in Paisley.

The investment will go to:

£41,000 to Bòrd na Gàidhlig. £21,000 will produce more multi-media packs to help parents of Gaelic Medium Education (GME) pupils use the language at home and give them practical support and resources to draw from. £20,000 will expand the Bòrd’s successful campaign to recruit GME teachers
£30,000 will be used to train GME teachers through the Gaelic Learning in Primary Schools (GLPS) method
£20,000 to Fèisean nan Gàidheal for their work with schools on drama workshops to incorporate Gaelic lessons
£10,000 to An Comunn Gàidhealach to fund a Music Tuition Coordinator to work with the Choirs Association to develop a programme of Junior Gaelic Choirs

Dr Allan said:“The Royal National Mòd is a time of celebration and reward for the many groups and individuals who have worked tirelessly to maintain Gaelic’s pivotal role in our heritage.

“This year we have proof that it is making a difference with the 2011 census showing the drop in the number of Gaelic speakers has gone from more than 16,000 between 1991 and 2001 to less than 900 in the last ten years. Not only is that a significant achievement, but the figures also showed that every category for speakers under 20 went up.

“Recent research also shows that the vast majority of non-Gaelic speakers feel the language is an important part of our heritage which is a tribute to the work of many of those taking part in the Mod and the regional competitions throughout the year.

“The growth in demand for Gaelic Medium Education across Scotland shows that the projects to benefit from today’s funding announcement are encouraging a new generation of speakers and reaffirming the place of indigenous languages in communities across Scotland.”

Dr Allan also announced that the Gaelic Ambassador of the Year would be Vice Principal of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, John Norman Macleod, who continues to make a significant contribution to Gaelic learning.

John Macleod, President of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said:"In his special anniversary year for Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, An Comunn Gàidhealach is delighted to recognise the achievements of SMO and in particular the significant contribution that John Norman has made to adult Gaelic learning over the past 30 years. It is good to recognise the valuable work of people who quietly and effectively teach others to develop their Gaelic abilities, and John Norman sincerely deserves special recognition for his services to our language."

Cothroman ùra do luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig

Tha pròiseactan a tha ag amas air sgilean cànain luchd ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig a neartachadh air maoin £100,000 fhaighinn eatarra.

Dh’fhoillsich Alasdair Allan - am Ministear airson Cànain na h-Alba - seo air thoiseach aig fosgladh oifigeil a’ Mhòid ann am Pàislig.

Bidh an t-airgead airson:

£41,000 gu Bòrd na Gàidhlig. £21,000 airson tuilleadh pasgain Fios is Freagairt a chruthachadh airson pàrantan le clann ann an Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig (FMG) a chuideachadh le barrachd Gàidhlig a chleachdadh aig an taigh agus goireasan ùr a thoirt dhaibh. Thèid £20,000 a dh’ionnsaigh an sgeama gus tidsearan ùra a tharraing gu FMG a’ mheudachadh.
£30,000 airson tidsearan FMG a thrèanadh tron dòigh ionnsachaidh: Ionnsachadh Gàidhlig anns a’ Bhun-sgoil (GLPS)
£20,000 gu Fèisean nan Gàidheal airson an co-obrachadh le sgoiltean – buthan-obrach agus leasain Ghaidhlig an luib a chèile.
£10,000 dhan Chomunn Gàidhealach airson co-òrdanaiche- ciùil fhastadh airson obair le Commun nan Còisirean Ciùil airson prògram Chòisirean Òga Gàidhlig a leasachadh.

Thuirt an Dotair Allan:“Tha a’ Ghàidhlig na pàirt chudromach de dhualchas ar dùthcha. Do bhuidhnean agus luchd-obrach a tha ag obair cho cruaidh, tha am Mòd na adhbhar gàirdeachais agus na thomhas air mar a tha daoine air soirbheachadh nan cuid obair chruaidh a’ cumail ar dualachas beò.

“Am bliadhna tha fianas againn gu bheil ar n’obair a’ toirt piseach air suidheachadh na Gàidhlig. Sheall figearan bhon Chunntas-sluaigh gu bheil lùghdachadh air àireamhan luchd-cleachdaidh na Gàidhlig air a dhol sios bho chòrr is 16,000 eadar 1991 agus 2001 gu nas lugha na 900 eadar 2001 agus 2011. Chan e sin a-mhàin, gu sònraichte sheall na h-aireamhan ùra gu bheil àireamhan air a dhol suas a-measg dhaoine fo aois 20.

“Tha rannsachadh cuideachd a’dearbhadh gu bheil a’ mhòr-chuid den phoball nach eil a bruidhinn Gàidhlig den bheachd gu bheil an cànan na pàirt chudromach de dhualchas na h-Alba. Tha seo na dheagh chomharra de ur dealas , chan ann a-mhàin aig a’ Mhòd Nàiseanta ach aig co-fharpaisean ionadail tron bhliadhna.

“Tha an t- iarrtas airson foghlam Gàidhlig air feadh na dùthcha ag innse gu bheil na pròiseactan a bhios a’ buannachd bhon mhaoin a tha air fhoillseachadh an-diugh a’toirt misneachd do ghinealach ùr ann an Alba agus a’dearbhadh cho cudromach sa tha mion-chanain ann an coimhearsnachdan air feadh na dùthcha. .”

Dh’ainmich an Dotair Allan cuideachd gur e Iain Tormod Macleòid, Iar-Phrionnsabal Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Tosgaire Gàidhlig na Bliadhna. Tha Iain Tormod air a bhith ag obair gu dicheallach a thaobh leasachadh na Gàidhlig fad iomadh bliadhna.

Thuirt Iain Macleòid, Ceann-Suidhe a’ Chomuinn Gàidhealach

“Ann am bliadhna a tha air leth sònraichte airson Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, tha An Comunn Gàidhealach fior thoilichte Iain Tormod ainmeachadh mar Thosgaire na Bliadhna airson an obair a rinn e fad 30 bliadhna a thaobh ionnsachadh mar Inbheach a thoirt bho neart gu neart.. Tha e feumail obair èifeachdach aithneachadh agus, gun teagamh sam bith, tha Iain Tormod airidh air a seo.”