MORE than 120 teachers have signed up to a training course on embedding Scots language into the classroom.
The first-of-its-kind resource is set to be delivered by the Open University, with funding supplied by the Scottish Government.
The current cohort of teachers are from all across Scotland and specialise in different subjects.
Delivered fully online with a mix of peer learning and guided self-study, the course comprises material covering 60 study hours over a nine-month period. Prior to its launch, the course was piloted with Banff Academy in Aberdeenshire.
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Susan Stewart, director of the Open University, in Scotland, said: “I am delighted that with the launch of this Scots language and culture course for teachers in Scotland, the Open University will make a significant contribution to Scottish primary and secondary education.
“The Open University’s supported distance learning model is a proven way of delivering at a national level yet sustaining local needs; 85% of our graduates remain in the location where their study was undertaken, retaining their talent and skills in those, often rural and remote, communities.
"This new course will offer a unique forum for teachers from across the country to collaboratively develop their practice, while enabling direct application of the new skills in their local classrooms as part of the learning.”
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth (above) is set to officially launch the course on Tuesday at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh.
Gilruth said the course is an “important step” towards embedding and protecting the language in Scottish education.
She said: “The Scots language programme is a very welcome addition to both the resources that we have in place to promote Scots and also to the range of support we provide for teachers in schools.
“The course is an important step forward towards embedding Scots language and culture in our classrooms across all levels and subject areas – which is a key part of our commitment to both celebrating and protecting Scotland’s languages."
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Louise Glen, senior education officer for Languages at Education Scotland, said: “This course emphasises the transformative role of Scots in Scottish schools, promoting multilingual classrooms.”
Meanwhile, Dr Sylvia Warnecke, senior lecturer in languages at the Open University, said the course met a “significant need”.
Warnecke added: "These teachers join us from all over Scotland, spanning various subject areas, from early years, across the broad general education, and into the senior phase.
"It's heartening to see many colleagues working with pupils with additional support needs also on board, especially amid the growing realisation that embedding Scots into Scottish classrooms is an essential equality and inclusion initiative.
"Interest from colleges is encouraging, and we hope to welcome further teachers in the next course intake in September."
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