The most recent St Andrew’s Day marked a very important day for Scots and Gaelic - it was when the Scottish Languages Act came into force, which recognises both of these as official languages of Scotland.

The act aims to promote and support Scotland’s national languages more consistently across public life, with a special emphasis on education. These provisions are perhaps most significant for Gaelic, making it easier for parents to request Gaelic-medium education (GME) for their children, but also with an expectation that education authorities promote the teaching and learning of Gaelic, including Gaelic-learner education.

I highlighted the importance of the education system for Gaelic’s future in Scotland in a regional dossier for the Europe-wide Mercator Research Centre, published in the autumn. A report last month by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education also provided useful insight into the state of Gaelic education in Scotland.

Growing demand from parents

One of the main challenges is that, although parental demand has grown and continues to grow, only around 3 per cent of primary school children in Scotland are enrolled in GME, with the expansion in provision hampered by a lack of teachers able to deliver the curriculum through the medium of Gaelic.

However, this does not mean that there are no options for expanding the provision of Gaelic in our schools in Scotland beyond this immersion model.

Gaelic for learners is already among the most popular languages to be taught as part of the 1+2 languages policy, and it is through this model that Gaelic could be introduced most easily into even more classrooms around Scotland, either as the first or second additional modern language.

Opportunities for introducing the Gaelic language and culture within the classroom are numerous, even where teachers might not speak the language well. Many schools focus on Scots language and culture in January in the run-up to Burns’ Night and, similarly, Gaelic might be explored through music, culture and the arts.

Various organisations, such as Fèisean nan Gàidheal, provide opportunities for young people to learn about the language and associated culture in this way.

It is also possible to embed learning about Gaelic through other curricular areas, for example, social studies, with ”experiences and outcomes” providing opportunities to learn about the context of Gaelic, not only historically but also in contemporary Scottish society.

This might include exploring local place names, with many of these throughout Scotland having their origins in Gaelic words to describe the local landscape and features; the Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba website is an ideal resource to start exploring these.

Support for teachers

There are numerous resources available for teachers who feel that they lack confidence and skills when it comes to Gaelic, but still wish to introduce the language into their classrooms.

For example, the Go! Gaelic materials created by Stòrlann have sound and video files, activities and other forms of support for teachers, including planners that can be used by all teachers to introduce Gaelic into their classrooms, as does the Gàidhlig nan Òg website, which is aimed at younger children.

It is still early days for the Scottish Languages Act and what it might mean for the inclusion of Gaelic and Scots in our schools.

Yet, it is already driving opportunities, through interdisciplinary projects, music, literature and language learning, to raise awareness about Gaelic and its place in Scotland today - and, ultimately, to secure the language’s future.

Dr Ingeborg Birnie is a senior lecturer at the Strathclyde Institute of Education

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