Language lessons

I AM concerned that your front page headline “Plan to teach Gaelic in every Primary” (2 August), may have misled your readers. Neither the government’s strategy for improving language learning in Scottish education, commonly known as the 1+2 Strategy, nor our draft Gaelic language plan, which we launched last week, seek to prescribe which specific languages should to be learned by pupils in any particular school in Scotland.

That is a matter for local decision making. Our draft Gaelic plan only highlights that we will encourage all schools and local authorities, when they are considering which languages to offer, to give serious consideration to Gaelic as an option. It is for them, in consultation with their local communities, to meet their local circumstances and parental wishes.

We certainly do believe, however, that Gaelic should be at the heart of learning in Scotland and we are totally committed to playing our part in ensuring a sustainable future for Gaelic education.

For a full account of how we, as a key national agency in education, are proposing to turn that commitment into practical action, I would encourage your readers to read our draft plan, available on the Education Scotland website, and send us their views on the proposals during the consultation period.

Dr Bill Maxwell

Chief executive
Education Scotland