Perth and Kinross Council told its Gaelic policy is creating 'two-tier' education system
A row has erupted over Perth and Kinross Council's failure to follow the lead of its Fife and Angus counterparts over Gaelic medium education (GME).
- By Sandra Gray
- Published in the Courier : 14.02.12
- Published online : 14.02.12 @ 03.46pm
There are fears that the local authority is creating a ''two-tier'' education system through its existing school transport policy by preventing children from gaining access to the free classes.
Only two schools in Perthshire participate in GME — Goodlyburn Primary School in Perth and Breadalbane Community Campus in Aberfeldy — and parents living outwith these catchment areas must make their own travel arrangements if they want their child to take part.
In contrast, Fife Council does not offer GME classes at all, yet still provides free transport to schools in other local authority areas that do teach the traditional Scots language, while Angus Council gives financial assistance towards travel.
Blair Atholl parent Georgina Farron is now taking Perth and Kinross Council to task in a bid to make it rethink its policy and help other parents like her who are struggling with spiralling costs.
Her daughter Eliza (5) is enrolled in Gaelic classes at Breadalbane, but faces being pulled out if a solution is not found.
''My family needs assistance with transport costs if we are to get to the end of this term,'' Mrs Farron said. ''In statutory guidance issued in 2004, all local authorities in receipt of Gaelic Specific Grant were supposed to produce a policy detailing entitlement to GME in their area and also detailing transport provision for children wishing to access this.
''Seven years on and nobody at Perth and Kinross Council can produce any such official policy statement. They can only refer to English medium, general transport policy or placing requests, which is irrelevant to specialist units.''
Her concerns have now reached the ears of Scottish Government ministers, after Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser quizzed Dr Alasdair Allan, minister for learning, science and Scotland's languages, on the delivery of GME.
He claimed that by not providing free transport for pupils living a ''considerable'' distance from Gaelic medium units, the council is creating a two-tier system where GME is only available to those who can afford to pay for travel.
Dr Allan said that, while transport is a matter for local authorities, they should ''do everything'' they can to ensure parents have easy access to lessons.
A spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council gave assurances that it recognised the importance of GME and revealed that a review is due to take place in the near future.
He said: ''We are proposing a review of our existing GME provision as part of our draft Gaelic language plan which is due to go out for consultation in a few weeks' time.
''It is possible, therefore, that this review may include a further look at transport arrangements and other options in regard to GME provision in the future and with a potential for increased interest in GME in mind.
''However, in the meantime, the council has a transport policy which is applied thoroughly and consistently and is made clear to parents when they choose to send their child to a school outside their catchment area.''
The prospect of a review has failed to appease Mrs Farron, who said: ''Suggestions that Perth and Kinross might review an unofficial, unfair policy in the future do not excuse the shameful failure to observe statutory priorities to help every pupil benefit from education with particular regard to Gaelic.''
11.34pm - 14.02.2012 Trafalgar - Lossiemouth, United Kingdom Report This
What a waste of public money teaching this obsolete language!!!
08.40am - 15.02.2012 Kenny - Forfar, Scotland Report This
If you want to learn Gaelic, do it as a language subject. There is no need to provide mainstream Teachers to teach a handfull of kids mainstream subjects like English....in Gaelic!!!!!
09.10am - 15.02.2012 Snow-buddy - Pitlochry, Scotland Report This
If it wasn't for the efforts of the Scottish government, Gaelic would be 'obsolete' within a few generations. As for P&KC, unless they are going to provide GME in every catchment, then it is not unreasonable for them to provide travel or assistance to parents who live outwith the small catchment
09.24am - 15.02.2012 Realistic - Perth, United Kingdom Report This
Its fair enough to expect the choice of whether to educate your child in GME, but parents should pay their own transport costs if they choose not to educate their child at their catchment school. This story is published elsewhere - if GME means so much, why are her other kids not in the unit too....
10.23am - 15.02.2012 Iain - Obar Dhethain, Alba Report This
Suas leis a' Ghàidhlig
01.24pm - 15.02.2012 Níall - Skye, Scotland Report This
Trafalgar, If you wish to talk about "obsolete" languages, then just look at your own. US English spelling conventions are rapidly becoming the internationally accepted form. Would you advocate "Americanizing" our "colors" and "a couple other" things?
03.49pm - 15.02.2012 Thornindaside - perth, scotland Report This
how does this costing of GME work? if you lived in Fife and got transport help,would Fife council pay for the cost of the education as well.Is the Gaelic Specific Grant there to cover all the additional costs incurred by local Authorities if so why is transport not included as change=more qualify.
07.34pm - 15.02.2012 Trafalgar - Lossiemouth, United Kingdom Report This
Niall,,, that's all it is,, "colors", and a " couple of other things". Many many millions of people around the world speak English with a "slight "variation in the spelling here and there. That is far different from a language that is spoken by a very small number of people, such as Gaelic.
09.09pm - 15.02.2012 Breadalbane Academy parent - Highland Perthshire, Scotland Report This
Considering that it is only 60 years since any child in Rannoch caught speaking Gaelic in school grounds had to then wear the sheep's skull, it is very welcome that there is now finally a Gaelic Medium class in Highland Perthshire. This should be open to all in the area, not just those in Aberfeldy.
09.18pm - 15.02.2012 Eggy - Bankfoot, UK Report This
As part of the direct grant PKC gets from the government for Gaelic Education includes money specifically for transport costs. Currently they are not using this money for its intended purpose
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