Written Question · S2W-02733 · Session 2
What responses it has received from local authorities to the legislative requirement that provision be made for Gaelic-medium education as …
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive what responses it has received from local authorities to the legislative requirement that provision be made for Gaelic-medium education as a national priority; what action it plans to take in relation to such responses; whether its draft Gaelic Language Bill will be extended to education and will include a requirement that provision must be made by each local authority for Gaelic-medium education, and, if so, what precise requirements will be placed on local authorities and whether these requirements will be determined by it, Bord na Gaighlig, or some other body.
The answer
Education authorities are requiredby the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc Act 2000, to prepare and publish an annualstatement of education improvement objectives, which shall include an account of the ways in which they will provide Gaelic-medium education and the ways in whichthey will seek to develop their provision of such education. Authorities’ improvementobjectives also have to take account of the National Priorities in Education andthe performance measures published in respect of the priorities, including the numberand percentage of requests for Gaelic-medium education met by the authority. Severallocal authorities have been able to report meeting all, or the overwhelming majority,of parental requests for Gaelic-medium education. Many authorities have also usedthe improvement framework to embed their policies around Gaelic-medium educationfully into their wider strategy for school education.
I consider that there is scopefor some education authorities to improve further their planning ofGaelic-medium education and am therefore taking action in three areas:
1. education authorities willbe given a clear reminder of their duty to address Gaelic-medium education in theirannual statement of improvement objectives and progress reports, and of the Executive’sexpectation that they will do so;
2. education authorities willbe asked to establish thresholds against which they will assess parental demandfor Gaelic-medium education within their area, and
3. Bòrd na Gàidhlig and the ManagementReview Group of local authorities will be invited to establish a joint sub-groupto review the performance measurement against which Gaelic-medium education developmentis measured.
The content of the forthcomingdraft Gaelic Language Bill has yet to be agreed by Cabinet. However, I am mindedto invite Bòrd na Gàidhlig to offer advice to local authority education authoritieson the development of Gaelic-medium education policies and to give them a role inadvising the Executive on the sufficiency of such policies and plan to consult onthis issue as part of the consultation process around the Gaelic Language Bill.
I take the advancement ofGaelic-medium education very seriously. I will not hesitate to use my powers toissue statutory guidance under the terms of the Standards in Scotland’s Schoolsetc Act 2000 if the further development of education authority improvement plansin relation to Gaelic-medium education demonstrates that is needed.
I consider that there is scopefor some education authorities to improve further their planning ofGaelic-medium education and am therefore taking action in three areas:
1. education authorities willbe given a clear reminder of their duty to address Gaelic-medium education in theirannual statement of improvement objectives and progress reports, and of the Executive’sexpectation that they will do so;
2. education authorities willbe asked to establish thresholds against which they will assess parental demandfor Gaelic-medium education within their area, and
3. Bòrd na Gàidhlig and the ManagementReview Group of local authorities will be invited to establish a joint sub-groupto review the performance measurement against which Gaelic-medium education developmentis measured.
The content of the forthcomingdraft Gaelic Language Bill has yet to be agreed by Cabinet. However, I am mindedto invite Bòrd na Gàidhlig to offer advice to local authority education authoritieson the development of Gaelic-medium education policies and to give them a role inadvising the Executive on the sufficiency of such policies and plan to consult onthis issue as part of the consultation process around the Gaelic Language Bill.
I take the advancement ofGaelic-medium education very seriously. I will not hesitate to use my powers toissue statutory guidance under the terms of the Standards in Scotland’s Schoolsetc Act 2000 if the further development of education authority improvement plansin relation to Gaelic-medium education demonstrates that is needed.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-02733 by reference.