In November 2022 Bòrd na Gàidhlig submitted a response to the consultation – Briefing on Reforming Scottish Qualifications – Hayward Review. The response included the point:
GME pupils should be provided with the same opportunities as young people in EME to demonstrate achievement through Gaelic and the necessary structures to deliver this should be in place at the same time as the EME structures.
The full response can be read here.
The Minister for Higher Education, Further Education, Youth Employment and Training has called for evidence for an independent review of skills delivery in Scotland.
Bòrd na Gàidhlig has submitted a response to this consultation which contained the following:
We would recommend that the skills landscape appropriately includes the range of issues relating to Gaelic-speaking communities across the country. In Scotland education is provided through either Gaelic or English and it will be important that our skills strategies and the organisations leading development ensure that both the Gaelic Medium Education (GME) and English Medium (EME) sectors are included in all planning.
The full response can be read here.
Bòrd na Gàidhlig has submitted a response to the Scottish Government consultation on a new Dementia strategy. This is a discussion paper developed to help people respond to the future of dementia policy in Scotland.
Points raised by Bòrd na Gàidhlig include:
It is generally recognised that native language speakers can revert largely or wholly to their mother tongue upon the onset of dementia. They may replace words (say, in English) with the equivalent in a language more familiar to them.
In some cases, this will be Gaelic and people can then face severe negative impacts if Gaelic is not spoken by most people around them.
Language is a fundamental part of being human. If few people or no-one around you understands your remaining language this can lead to isolation, loneliness, confusion, frustration, or depression. You are unable to tell people simple things like what you’d like to eat or do (e.g., go for a walk) and, just as importantly, share your thoughts and feelings.
It is also generally recognised that being able to converse in one’s chosen language (e.g., Gaelic) can be a great contributor to wellbeing at times of illness or distress. It also ensures equality of treatment.
The availability of opportunities to converse in Gaelic is a clear example of what the consultation states as “what we all need to do together to ensure people living with dementia and their families/carers can be supported to live well, in a way that suits them” (emphasis added). This should be acknowledged in the new strategy.
The full response can be read here.
Bòrd na Gàidhlig welcomes the opportunity to respond to this consultation on Responsible Tourism Framework.
Some of the points raised include:
Gaelic is a national language. Increasing its use at HES’s sites will ensure that they are fully – as per the Framework – “providing visitor attractions that represent Scotland’s identity” and “tell Scotland’s story”.
The Gaelic language is vital to understanding the culture associated with many HES sites. VisitScotland’s Gaelic Tourism Strategy for Scotland – which HES are involved in delivering – states that:
“Gaelic is also embedded in our world-famous landscape and cities with instant recognition for the likes of Loch Ness (Loch Nis), Culloden (Cùil Lodair), Glenfinnan (Gleann Fhionnainn), Glasgow (Glaschu) and Dundee (Dùn Dè) whose names in English remain close to their original Gaelic”.
Increasing the use of Gaelic in, for example, interpretation will help achieve the Framework’s aim to “safeguard authenticity and the sense of place” and thus represent an enhancement “providing authentic visitor experiences”. It would also reinforce that Gaelic is a living language.
The full response can be read here.
Bòrd na Gàidhlig welcomes the opportunity to respond to this consultation by the National Parks Commission.
Some of the points raised include:
The growth in Gaelic learner numbers and in Gaelic-related tourism represents a tremendous opportunity for new and existing National Parks. Attracting people who use or are interested in Gaelic will produce a more diverse visitor profile – and increase visitor numbers with attendant economic benefits.
The use of the Gaelic language in settings such as National Parks contributes to individuals’ wellbeing.
Language and culture create self-esteem, nurture self-confidence, define identity and improve quality of life. This increases wellbeing for Gaelic users, learners, and supporters – who have great pride in the Gaelic language and culture. Gaelic contributes positively to what these people think and feel about their lives.
Màiri MacInnes, Chair of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, said: “We welcome the Scottish Government’s consultation and their ongoing commitment to Gaelic, which aligns to our own ambitions for the language. We recognise the importance of all Scotland’s indigenous languages and their contribution to the cultural diversity of the nation and support measures for Scots within this consultation.
“The evidence from the recent Scottish Social Attitudes Survey shows that support and demand for the Gaelic language continues to be on the rise, particularly among the younger generations, which will be a significant step in progressing normalisation of the language.”
“More and more families are seeking Gaelic-medium Education and a majority of Scottish Local Authorities are now providing or are in the process of setting up Gaelic-medium Primary Education. The latest figures show a 21% increase in the number of Primary school children in Gaelic-medium Education and a 16% increase in the number of Secondary School pupils in Gaelic-medium in the last five years. We firmly believe the new national strategy needs to be led from ministerial level to provide national direction and implementation, with Gaelic education firmly embedded in the new education agencies. Parental rights to Gaelic-medium education should be expanded and the opportunity to learn Gaelic should be available to all pupils in Scotland through the 1 + 2 Programme as part of an entitlement to learn about Scotland’s rich cultural heritage, which includes the Gaelic language and culture.”
“We recommend that the National Plan for Gaelic remains the strategy for developing Gaelic in Scotland. We also recommend that the legal status of Gaelic is strengthened through new Scottish Languages Bill. These will be pivotal in ensuring that Scotland continues to increase the use and learning of Gaelic nationally.
“We look forward to working with Scottish Government and other stakeholders to inform the next steps in developing a draft bill through the parliamentary process. We would also encourage others to submit a response.”
View the full submission here.
Bòrd na Gàidhlig has submitted a response to the consultation by The Scottish Government on: Inspection of early learning and childcare and school age childcare services in Scotland.
The response included the following points:
We are very concerned that the proposed vision does not recognise a fundamental aspect of Scottish Education – that the delivery of education in Scotland takes place through the medium of English or through the medium of Gaelic. This crucial omission impacts on all aspects of this consultation and has led to there being a number of gaps in the proposals.
We note references to Putting Children at the Centre, which is very welcome, but we are disappointed that the comments and recommendations concerning Gaelic and GME contained in Professor Muir’s report do not appear to have influenced the draft proposals for ELC inspection.
It is clear that further work is required to ensure that the proposals under consideration in this consultation fully meet the needs of Scotland’s ELC sector which provides education in two languages, either Gaelic or English. Whilst there remains a challenge in revising some areas, we are fully confident that with support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig and other national agencies this can be achieved.
The full response can be accessed here.
The University of The Highlands and Islands is seeking opinions on the merger of their rural and islands colleges. Bòrd na Gàidhlig has submitted a response with includes the points:
We very much welcome the various statements on, and commitments to, Gaelic in the merger proposal and business case document.
We also welcome the statement that the proposals will “cement our leading position developing Gaelic language and Gaelic medium curriculum across the Highlands and Outer Hebrides”.
Thus, overall, we expect the role of Gaelic, in teaching, research and using Gaelic, to be strengthened within the new structure.
The full response can be accessed here.
East Renfrewshire Council has launched a public consultation for interested individuals and groups to have their say on the establishment of a Gaelic Medium Primary Education (GMPE) at Thornliebank Primary School from August 2023 and beyond.
Bòrd na Gàidhlig has submitted a response which includes the points:
Bòrd na Gàidhlig welcomes the establishment of Gaelic Medium Primary Education (GMPE) in East Renfrewshire Council, as a result of a successful application by parents utilising the provisions in the Education Scotland Act (2016), as outlined in the Statutory Guidance for Gaelic Education.
Due consideration has been given by East Renfrewshire Council not only on establishing provision but future proofing provision to ensure expansion is possible. Bòrd na Gàidhlig believe that GMPE within East Renfrewshire council will be an attractive option for parents and that numbers are likely to grow in the future.
The full response can be read here.
Bòrd na Gàidhlig has submitted a response to West Dunbartonshire Council’s Draft Strategic Plan 2022-27 consultation.
Some of the points raised include:
There are no references to Gaelic language and culture in the Draft Strategic Plan nor in the accompanying Strategic Needs Assessment. (We also note that there are no references to Gaelic in the draft West Dunbartonshire’s Economic Development Strategy 2022 – 2027). This is despite the Council having a Gaelic Language Plan containing various commitments.
This needs to be addressed in the final version of the Draft Strategic Plan.
The full response can be read here.
