Council allocated cash to support language learning

Orkney Islands Council is to receive £28,000 from the Scottish Government to support language learning.

Five local councils in the Highlands and Islands have been allocated £529,000 of £7.2 million announced by the Scottish Government.

The money can be invested in “local priorities:, which the Government says can include training for primary teachers, strategic planning and development or employing more language assistants.

In 2011, the Scottish Government made a commitment to introduce the model over two Parliaments – by 2020 – so every primary school pupil will start learning a second language in primary one and a third language at the latest in primary five.

This will bring Scotland into line with many other European countries where learning a second language starts in early primary school and learning three languages is common.