MSP’s comments on Gaelic education ‘greatly exaggerated’, says Scottish Government

The teaching of Gaelic is not something that will be forced on Orkney schools, according to the Scottish Government.

Following last Tuesday’s meeting of the parliament’s education committee, which was considering amendments at Stage 2 of the Education Scotland Bill, Orkney MSP Liam McArthur said that the introduction of “an entitlement” to Gaelic education could see the OIC having to prioritise spending to ensure there are teachers and other resources available to provide Gaelic medium education in the islands.

However, describing Mr McArthur’s comments as “greatly exaggerated”, a Scottish Government spokesperson has stressed there will be no entitlement to Gaelic education “without solid evidence of parental demand and the authority assessing the reasonableness of the request.”

The spokesperson added: “This will not be expected, or imposed, on any area without good evidence of parental demand. The trigger in the Bill, when it was introduced and now after changes have been accepted, is a certain level of parental demand.

“Authorities with no Gaelic medium provision have been asked only to publicise the right of parents to request Gaelic medium primary education.”