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Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning
Mercator Regional Dossier - Gaelic in Scotland

Mercator Regional Dossier. The Gaelic language in education in Scotland (3rd Edition), by Ingeborg Birnie et al.

New edition Regional Dossier on Gaelic in education in Scotland

Language and multilingualism

Publication

Mercator

'This third edition of 'The Gaelic language in education in Scotland' has been completely updated and is another fine addition to the Regional Dossier series.

With the Regional Dossiers, the Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning, part of the Fryske Akademy, focuses on the education system in European regions that have an autochthonous lesser-used language, and on how the lesser-used language is embedded in this system.

The latest dossier was compiled in collaboration with the Mercator editorial team by Ingeborg Birnie, PhD. Birnie is a Senior Lecturer in the University of Strathclyde's Institute of Education. She has worked with the European Centre for Modern Languages to promote the teaching and learning of languages in the early years (covering pre-primary and primary) and is currently working with UNESCO on the promotion of Indigenous languages in education as part of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. She serves as the member in respect of the Netherlands on the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee for the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

About Gaelic

Since 2005 Gaelic has been an official language of Scotland, commanding equal respect to the English language. This has not resulted in additional rights to use Gaelic or access Gaelic (medium) education yet. Parents can make a request for Gaelic (medium) education through their local authority which is then obliged to carry out an initial assessment to establish parental demand within the area.

In July 2025 the Scottish Languages Bill was given Royal Assent. This bill will provide further support to the language and promote Gaelic within the education system. Provisions for Gaelic Medium Education grew significantly since its inception in the early 1980s and 1990s and is currently provided in 16 local authorities in 61 primary schools to around 1% of all pupils in Scotland.

More information and the free downloadable Regional Dossier The Gaelic language in education in Scotland (3rd Edition), including summary translations in English and Gaelic, can be found on our special Gaelic webpage.

 

 

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