Secondary Education
There are three forms of Gaelic education in the secondary schools: subjects which are taught through the medium of Gaelic; Gaelic as a subject for fluent speakers; and Gaelic as a subject for learners. Gaelic as a subject (for fluent speakers and learners), culminating in a final exam, is available at Standard Grade, Access, Intermediate 1 and 2, Higher and Advanced Higher. There are a number of other subjects taught through the medium of Gaelic in secondary schools up to Standard Grade level, and it is expected that this will expand in the future. Pupils at present may (when requested) sit a Standard Grade exam in Geography, History, Maths and Modern Studies.
As the number of pupils in the primary schools grows the demand for Gaelic Medium Education in secondary schools is rising. There are 390 pupils being educated in Gaelic in Scottish secondary schools according to the latest figures (school year 2009-2010) and there are 1,028 fluent speakers and 2,824 learners taking Gaelic as a subject (2009-2010).
The expansion in education through Gaelic means that there is a need for teachers who are capable of teaching specific subjects through the medium of Gaelic. The Executive and other organisations are working to provide more of these teachers, and they are also making use of modern technology in order to deliver secondary classes in different subjects.
One of the means which is expected to be used to achieve this is a ‘virtual’ secondary school which will employ new technology to enable access to secondary school teaching in various subjects throughout Scotland. This new technology is already in use, with a teacher in Spain teaching Geography to pupils in Scotland through online classes.
The Scottish Executive and other parties are working to attract more teachers to teach subjects through the medium of Gaelic. There are a number of subjects taught through Gaelic in Scottish secondary schools, and it is expected that they will increase with support from the Executive and because of demand from pupils.
