Gaelic teaching hub announced

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig is to be a Gaelic hub in the new Centre for Teaching Excellence, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth has announced during a visit to the college.

The Cabinet Secretary met with staff at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, during a visit to discuss the aims of the new Centre in providing opportunities for Gaelic teachers across the country.

Ahead of Gaelic week which gets underway on Monday, Ms Gilruth met senior leadership, teachers and students, before attending the Sabhal Mòr Ostaig Annual Lecture.

More than £100,000 of funding has been confirmed today to provide upgrades to accommodation at the college. Separate funding for Comann na Gàidhlig will also help provide a new minibus to support participation in Gaelic sports.

Ms Gilruth also visited Broadford Primary to hear first hand from staff and pupils about the English and Gaelic education it provides, as well as plans for a new school and community hub at the site.

The Education Secretary said:

“Sabhal Mór Ostaig is internationally respected as the only Centre of Higher and Further Education in the world which provides its learning programmes entirely through the medium of Gaelic.

“It has been a privilege to meet staff and students at the college to learn about the work here, including the Gaelic hub being developed for the Centre for Teaching Excellence

“I was also hugely encouraged to hear about the great work being undertaken at Broadford Primary and to hear about their exciting plans for the new school.  

“The Scottish Government is a strong supporter of Scotland’s indigenous languages and encourages bodies and communities to work together to support and promote Gaelic language and culture.”

Shona Cormack, Head of Teacher Education at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, said:

“We are delighted to be working with our colleagues at the University of Glasgow to establish the Centre and to have Gaelic Education recognised as a core area in the new Centre’s work. We look forward to working with Gaelic teachers to identify priority areas for development and to provide access to professional learning based on the latest research that will positively impact teaching and learning in Gaelic classrooms across the country.”

Background

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig will work collaboratively on the Centre for Teaching Excellence with hosts, the University of Glasgow. The Cabinet Secretary’s visit to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and Broadford Primary took place on Thursday 20 February.

The Sabhal Mór Ostaig annual lecture this year was delivered by Alan Esslemont, Director General of Irish language channel TG4.

The funding announced today comprises:

• £109,657 for in capital funding for the Sabhal Mòr Ostaig estate, mainly in the student accommodation
• £91,711 for Comann na Gàidhlig to provide a minibus for Gaelic sports, as well as outdoor equipment.

Hub Teagaisg Gàidhlig air ainmeachadh

Maoineachadh de £200,000 airson bus spòrs agus àite-còmhnaidh.

Bidh Sabhal Mòr Ostaig mar hub Gàidhlig dha Ionad ùr airson Sàr-mhathais ann an Teagasg. Chaidh seo a chur an cèill le Rùnaire an Fhoghlaim is i a’ tadhal air a’ cholaiste.

Choinnich Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit le luchd-obrach aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, an t-Ionad Nàiseanta airson Cànan agus Cultar na Gàidhlig, is i a’ tadhal gus còmhradh mu na h-amasan a bhiodh aig an Ionad ùr is e a’ toirt seachad chothroman do thidsearan Gàidhlig air feadh na dùthcha.

Le Seachdain na Gàidhlig a’ tòiseachadh air Diluain, choinnich a’ BhCh. NicGilleRuaidh ri ceannardan, tidsearan agus oileanaich, mus robh i an làthair aig Òraid Bhliadhnail Shabhal Mòr Ostaig.

Chaidh còrr air £100,000 de mhaoineachadh a dhearbhadh an-diugh gus àite-còmhnaidh na Colaiste ùrachadh. Thèid maoineachadh fa leth a thoirt seachad gus cuideachadh le bhith a’ frithealadh bus ùr tron urrainn daoine a dhol an sàs ann an spòrs Gàidhlig.

Bha a’ BhCh. NicGilleRuaidh cuideachd a’ tadhal air Bun-sgoil an Àth Leathainn gus cluinntinn bho luchd-obrach is sgoilearan iad fhèin mun fhoghlam Bheurla is Ghàidhlig a bhios an sgoil a’ toirt seachad, a thuilleadh air planaichean airson sgoil ùr agus hub coimhearsnachd aig an làraich.

Thuirt Rùnaire an Fhoghlaim:

“Tha Sabhal Mòr Ostaig air spèis a choisinn gu h-eadar-nàiseanta mar an aon Ionad airson Foghlam Àrd-ìre is Leantainneach anns an t-saoghal a tha a’ toirt seachad am prògram ionnsachaidh gu tur tron Ghàidhlig.

“’S e urram a tha air a bhith ann coinneachadh ri luchd-obrach agus oileanaich aig a’ cholaiste gus ionnsachadh mun obair an seo, na mheasg an hub Gàidhlig a thathar a leasachadh don Ionad airson Sàr-mhathais ann an Teagasg.

“Bha mi cuideachd fìor air mo bhrosnachadh cluinntinn mun sàr obair a tha a’ leantainn aig Bun-sgoil an Àth Leathainn is a bhith a’ cluinntinn mu na planaichean misneachail aca airson na sgoile ùire.

“Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba gu làidir a’ cur taic ri cànain tùsanach na h-Alba is a’ brosnachadh bhuidhnean is coimhearsnachdan a bhith ag obair còmhla gus taic is adhartas a thoirt do chànan is cultar na Gàidhlig.”

Thuirt Shona NicCarmaig, Stiùiriche Foghlam Thidsearan aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig:

“Tha sinn air ar dòigh a bhith ag obair còmla ri ar co-obraichean aig Oilthigh Ghlaschu gus an t-Ionad a stèidheachadh is gun tèid a’ Ghàidhlig aithneachadh mar phrìomh phàirt de dh’obair an Ionaid ùir. Tha sinn a’ dèanamh fiughar ri bhith ag obair le tidsearan Gàidhlig gus aithneachadh dè na prìomh chùisean a dh’fheumas a bhith air an leasachadh agus gus cothrom a thoirt dhaibh air ionnsachadh proifeiseanta a tha air fhiosrachadh leis an rannsachadh as ùire aig am bi deagh bhuaidh air teagasg agus ionnsachadh ann an seòmraichean-sgoile Gàidhlig air feadh na dùthcha.”  

Cùl-fhiosrachadh

Obraichidh Sabhal Mòr Ostaig ann an com-pàirt air an Ionad airson Sàr-mhathais ann an Teagasg còmhla ri prìomh bhuidhinn an ionaid, Oilthigh Ghlaschu. ’S ann air Diardaoin 20 Gearran a bha Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit a’ tadhal air Sabhal Mòr Ostaig agus Bun-sgoil an Àth Leathainn.

A’ bhliadhna seo bha òraid bhliadhnail Shabhal Mòr Ostaig air a lìbhrigeadh le Ailean Esslemont, Stiùiriche Coitcheann na seanail Gaeilge, TG4.

An lùib a’ mhaoineachadh a chaidh fhoillseachadh an-diugh tha:

• £109,657 de mhaoin-chalpa airson oighreachd SMO, a’ chuid as motha airson àite-còmhnaidh nan oileanach
• £91,711 do Chomunn na Gàidhlig gus bus a bhith aca airson spòrs Gàidhlig, agus cuideachd uidheamachd airson a’ bhlàr a-muigh