A FOUR-year plan to develop and support more fluent and confident Gaelic speakers and promote thriving Gaelic communities and culture has been unveiled by City of Edinburgh Council.
The Draft Gaelic Language Plan was published by the council yesterday, and will be open for consultation until December 15. The final Gaelic Language Plan will come back to the council in early 2018 for approval, and will then run until September 2022.
The council says it is committed to working in partnership with Gaelic communities, organisations that deliver Gaelic services, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and the Scottish Government to achieve its goal.
This is the second Gaelic Language Plan produced by the council, which says it will build on the success of the previous plan that saw the expansion of early Gaelic Medium Education (GME), a new GME primary school Taobh na Pàirce and further development of Gaelic Learning Education at both primary and secondary schools.
“The plan also links in with the Edinburgh City Vision 2050, which states that Edinburgh aspires to be a connected, inspired, fair and thriving city,” the council stated. “The Gaelic language and Gaelic communities are an integral part of that vision.”
The draft plan has six strategic themes and commitments: home and early years, education, community, workplace, culture/arts/heritage and economy.
Councillor Lewis Ritchie, Gaelic Champion for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Gaelic is an integral part of our shared heritage and national identity and is a unique and essential feature of Scotland’s rich cultural tapestry.
“Gaelic belongs to everyone in Scotland, not least the citizens of Edinburgh and as the capital city, we have a special responsibility to ensure that the language is protected, supported and nurtured.
“Gaelic pupils have a right to demand the highest possible quality learning experience that any of their English-language counterparts might receive in Edinburgh’s schools.
“We therefore have a duty to ensure that they leave school with a sense of achievement and attainment, as well as confidence and fluency in their Gaelic.
“So, over the next five years, we need to work hard to improve all aspects of the Council’s offer to Gaelic pupils and further expand provision.”
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