New Gaelic youth strategy to focus on language outside classroom

More opportunities need to be built around Gaelic education if young people are to develop a “level of functional fluency”, it has been said.  

A new strategy is being developed to help expand learning of the language beyond the classroom and during extra-curricular activities.  

The £150,000 plan, split over two years, is being run in partnership between Bòrd na Gàidhlig and youth development group Comunn na Gàidhlig.  

The process will run until March 2026, when the Gaelic Youth Strategy is due to be completed.  

However, it is expected that positive recommendations “might flow from the strategy work” as it progresses. The Strategy has been identified as a specific target in the National Plan for Gaelic for the next five years.  

Glasgow Gaelic school P7 pupils (Image: Colin Mearns/NQ)Comunn na Gàidhlig (CnaG ) chief executive Donald MacNeill: “Although we are at the beginning of this process, I think that some things are clear from the very outset.

“In the first place we are not criticising in any way the work that’s taking place in Gaelic education. Young people are getting a very good education, but if our objective is that more of them leave school with better abilities in Gaelic, and a greater confidence and desire to use the language, then we need to look at the education model to see what else can be built around it. 

“Secondly that we will need to look at creating new data sources or tools to allow us to better measure fluency and language affinity. In due course these would allow us to demonstrate success in bringing more young people to that point.” 

Two steering groups are being established to guide the development of the strategy. 

The first will be drawn from people and organisations with experience in Gaelic language development, Gaelic education, and youth work. There will be youth representation on this group.  

The second will involve young Gaelic speakers from across Scotland, including those who went to further education as well as those who left Gaelic Medium Education at an earlier stage. 

Gaelic signs (Image: Colin Mearns/NQ)Mr MacNeill said: “We’ve become increasingly aware of the need for a more strategic approach towards the youth and extra-curricular work that is delivered around Gaelic Medium Education schools and settings.  

 “We are delighted that Bòrd na Gàidhlig agree, and that they have asked us to take the lead in this important work. We have already started our conversations with key partners who we hope will be involved in this with us.  

“More importantly than that perhaps, we have begun to gather the views and opinions of the young people themselves.” 

He added: “Having them at the heart of this process will be a priority for us, to be sure we hear what they believe will be needed to bring more of Scotland’s young Gaelic speakers to a greater level of fluency, and a greater willingness to use the language.” 

The first steering group met for the first time just in the last few days, with the second expected to meet in the near future. The groups will meet together as the strategy development takes shape.   

Ealasaid MacDonald, chief executive of Bòrd na Gàidhlig said: “Bòrd na Gàidhlig are delighted that CnaG are leading on this critically important work in relation to young Gaelic speakers, It is essential that these young people understand they are a key focus of ours as we look to the strength of the Gaelic language in the future.  

“Youth voices will need to be at the heart of this work, and as a foundation for the strategy which will outline development priorities for this age group.”  

photo : Gaelic education was praised, alongside a recognition more needs to be done (Image: Mark F Gibson / Gibson Digital)