GAELIC PARENTS’ CONCERNS ABOUT TEACHER SHORTAGES
The Comann nam Pàrant Dùn Èideann and Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce Parent Council joint response to City of Edinburgh Council draft Gaelic Language Plan states that:
A core concern in the future development of secondary GME is that a greater percentage of the timetable should be delivered through the medium of Gaelic, as is acknowledged in the GLP. As matters currently stand there are no certificated subjects offered in Gaelic, other than Gàidhlig, and the recent loss of a teacher has meant that classes expected to take National 5 examinations in Nuadh-Eòlas (Modern Studies) through Gaelic have been transferred to the English-language curriculum. There is therefore a clear and urgent need both that more subjects are taught through Gaelic, and that certificated subjects in Gaelic can be offered.
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Recruitment and retention of staff has in the past proved difficult and it is recognised that those qualified to teach secondary GME are a small group. It is therefore important that a specific strategy to encourage relevant staff into GME in Edinburgh should be elaborated and that this should go beyond standard advertising practices. This could include engagement with relevant students in teacher training and the offer of incentives to work in Edinburgh.