Key issues in Gaelic education will come under the microscope at a two-day conference for probationer teachers which begins in Glasgow today (Monday, June 15, 2009).

The conference, which is hosted by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, is aimed primarily at teachers embarking on new careers and those who took up their last year. The  conference will welcome new teachers into the profession and provide opportunities for them to examine the key challenges faced by new teachers in the early months of their career, and will draw on the expertise and advice of existing practitioners and leading teacher trainers.  

The conference, which is being held in Glasgow, will hear from Gaelic teachers from across Scotland and experts in a number of fields such as language development, curriculum and staff development and pupil assessment.

Rosemary Ward, Acting Chief Executive of Bòrd na Gàidhlig said: “There is currently a heightened focus on the recruitment of Gaelic teachers across all sectors of education. However, we are very aware of the need to offer newly qualified teachers and those who have recently joined the profession for a small number of years the support they need in terms of professional career development and the wider changes which are taking place in education. It is important that we can plan ahead and the teachers themselves have a key role to play in the way we do that, particularly with respect to identifying training needs and other resource issues. These are challenging times for everyone in education and with the opportunities that A Curriculum for Excellence offers teachers  it is important that we are ahead of the game and this type of seminar offers teachers the time and space they need to discuss the issues and challenges they face, as well as share best practice and developments in key areas.”

The conference will cover a range of different topics including developments in examination structures, the teaching of mathematics through Gaelic, language development and usage particularly in immersion classrooms, the use of new technology and the delivery of secondary subjects through the medium of Gaelic.

Angela McGillivray, Bord na Gàidhlig’s Teacher Recruitment Officer is organising the conference. She said: “This is the second seminar we have held and we know from teacher feedback that the opportunity to discuss key issues is very important for staff, especially as they embark on new careers. It can be quite daunting for teachers in the early stages of their careers and this conference is part of our national strategy to increase the number of Gaelic teachers in Scotland and one way of helping the recruitment process by ensuring that we provide new Gaelic teachers with relevant support and advice at a crucial point in their careers.”

For further information on this news release, please contact Hugh Dan MacLennan on 0751 528 7040.

See also: www.teagasg.com