4. Professional Preparation
4.1 Gaelic Content
4.1.1 In 1999 the General Teaching Council (Scotland) issued a report on 'Teaching in Gaelic Medium Education, Recommendations for Change'. This report made a number of important recommendations in connection with courses, student selection and teacher qualifications. Many of the recommendations in this report are still relevant and the Group felt that the GTCS should seek to implement these and to ensure that all teachers qualifying with Gaelic-related qualifications receive formal certification verifying this as part of their qualification.
4.1.2 There are two other issues arising out of the GTCS report which the Group would like to emphasise and which are directly relevant to the work of the Teachers' Action Group. The first is the need for a significant aspect of ITE courses and related placements to be in the medium of Gaelic in order to develop and maintain the fluency, confidence and linguistic development of students.
4.1.3 The Group felt it was extremely important that Gaelic medium students undertake placements in Gaelic medium settings and if possible to vary the size and level of the class. If that were done it should be possible for students following a joint course to gain experience of teaching their second subject through the medium of Gaelic, where that subject is available through the medium of Gaelic. The new arrangements directly involving local authorities in student placements gives an opportunity to ensure that Gaelic medium students are placed in Gaelic classes with support from schools and the local authorities. In Aberdeen's PGDE (Primary), students have a minimum of 50% of their placements in Gaelic medium, in upper stages and immersion, and where possible they also undertake their nursery placement in Gaelic medium.
4.1.4 The second issue is the need for Gaelic modules in ITE to assist with the diverse requirements and particular needs of Gaelic medium teaching. For example, students should have the opportunity to focus on distinctive aspects of Gaelic medium education. At present, in Aberdeen's PGDE, Primary, the modules delivered through the medium of Gaelic include: Professional Focus, Preparation for School Experience, Language (English) and Maths. Again, as mentioned above in 4.1.1, the GTCS report is quite clear on these issues.
4.2 Language Deficit
4.2.1 As stated above, in order to proceed beyond the interview an applicant will have to demonstrate appropriate fluency in Gaelic. Both Universities of Aberdeen and Strathclyde acknowledge that not all applicants are accepted and often it can be the level of fluency or competence in Gaelic that can be the reason for failure to proceed beyond interview. The Group felt that consideration might be given to offering some support to applicants to remedy mild language deficits. If some support was in place, possibly in terms of an additional course, this would increase the number of Gaelic medium students training to be teachers.
4.2.2 It is also now generally accepted that even amongst those students who are successful in securing a place in Gaelic Initial Teacher Education, there are some who require linguistic support. There are two types of support required but at present there is no means of providing that support, other than during University inputs, which are already demanding in terms of course requirements. In the case of learners, there is often a need to improve their skills in speaking and listening and in the case of native speakers there is often the need for support in literacy in areas such as language structures and orthography. The Group felt that there was a need to address this question of the language deficit of some students and that this be addressed by means of a short summer course.
4.2.3 Such a course should be available for all students: those wishing to go into ITE but who have a linguistic deficit; those who have come through the system and are about to embark upon their induction year, but feel that they need further assistance, either in fluency and/or literacy; and also those qualified teachers who speak Gaelic but are currently unable to teach in Gaelic medium through lack of confidence or linguistic ability.
4.2.4 The course could be designed to suit the needs of all Gaelic medium students and perhaps adapted to suit individual need in terms of subject specialism. For practising teachers the completion of the course would enable them to teach in Gaelic throughout Scotland. It would be to the benefit of a local authority to encourage and support teachers in attending a course of this nature.
4.3 Induction Arrangements
4.3.1 The placement of probationer teachers to the teaching profession is now managed directly through the General Teaching Council and the Scottish Executive as a result of the Teachers' Agreement for the 21st Century. This arrangement has been in place since school sessions 2002-03. The Teacher Induction Scheme offers all newly qualified teachers a teaching post for a year with a Scottish local authority, with a reduced class contact time and the opportunity to reach the Standard for Full Registration in one school year.
4.3.2 Students are asked to nominate, in preference order, the five local authorities that they would be willing to work in for their induction year. The Executive asks local authorities to offer up vacancies for the Scheme. A computer system randomly allocates probationers to teaching posts. Gaelic probationers are, however, matched manually taking account of their preferences and local authority vacancies.
4.3.3 There were 16 Gaelic medium primary probationers who qualified for the 2005-06 school session and they were all placed in Gaelic medium posts. Concerns still remain about the operation of this system and whether authorities kept the probationers in Gaelic medium classes. The Group welcomed the Executive's commitment to continue to monitor closely the situation and, where possible, to take action to ensure that Gaelic medium teachers stay in Gaelic medium.
4.3.4 The Group also believes that Bòrd na Gàidhlig should require such a practice to be put in place as part of a local authority's language plan. Local authorities should have to report on how many Gaelic probationers they have received, and how many are still teaching, in Gaelic medium or Gaelic Language. In the case of dual qualified students, schools and authorities should be encouraged to ensure that they can maintain their working knowledge of their second subject.
4.4 Strategic Approach
4.4.1 Scottish Ministers have made the commitment that Gaelic medium probationer teachers will, as far as is possible, be allocated to a Gaelic medium post. On successful completion of the probationer year, teachers can apply for work in the authorities of their choice.
4.4.2 For the year 2004-05 teacher induction scheme the Scottish Executive introduced the preference waiver payment. The payment offers probationers on the scheme £6,000 if they are willing to work anywhere in Scotland for their induction year and are subsequently allocated outwith their five preferences. For the 2005-06 scheme, all Gaelic probationers have been allocated to Gaelic medium posts. The preference waiver has not been granted very often and has not made much difference in relation to Gaelic speaking teachers. In Autumn 2005 the Induction Scheme will be reviewed.
Recommendations:
- The GTCS should seek to take forward the implementation of the recommendations in the report 'Teaching in Gaelic Medium Education, Recommendations for Change'.
- Local authorities and universities should ensure quality student placements for Gaelic medium students in Gaelic medium establishments.
- Gaelic medium secondary students offering a second subject should gain experience of teaching that subject through the medium of Gaelic, where this is available.
- Language courses should be offered to address students' and teachers' language deficit in order to allow them to progress to Gaelic medium teacher training or teaching.
- The Scottish Executive should seek to ensure that all Gaelic medium students are placed in Gaelic medium classes and should seek to use the £6000 preference waiver to attract students to priority areas, and authorities should seek to ensure they continue as Gaelic medium teachers.