There was circulated Report No GSC15/03 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport outlining the progress to date in implementing the Council Gaelic Education and Early Years Strategy.

The report explained that the Gaelic Education and Early Years Strategy was adopted by the Education, Culture and Sport Committee on 14 November 2002 which set out a policy for the continued development of Gaelic education in Highland. There was also an important section on ‘Issues of Status and Ethos’ included. The report described the progress to date in implementing the strategy and gave an update with regard to current issues of pre-school education; Gaelic medium primary education; Gaelic medium secondary education; adult education; and community development.

The Head of Education Services also made a presentation outlining Gaelic Medium Education as the key to the future and development of the Gaelic language and culture.

During discussion, the following main points were raised:-

-2 with regard to local mods, it was felt that more promotion of events was required and also increased incentives to participate, especially for secondary school children were required;

-3 there was a need to work with other local authorities, especially through using IT systems to assist the learning of the language;

-4 concern was expressed that the Early Years curriculum was too structured and there should be more learning through play;

-5 a key issue was teacher supply and how to attract Gaelic speaking teachers, in particular, to the Highlands;

-6 dual language signage should be used in all Council facilities and not solely in education establishments;

The Committee NOTED the report and AGREED:-

(i) that consideration be given to holding local mods on school days to encourage secondary pupils to participate in the events;

(ii) a meeting be arranged with other local authorities with a view to using IT systems to assist in developing the language;

(iii) to continue work to promote and attract bilingual teachers to the Highlands;

(iv) dual signage be used in all Council facilities not just education establishments; and

(v) Community Development and Local Enterprise Companies be engaged to encourage and support people learning Gaelic.

There was circulated Report No GSC16/03 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport outlining steps that were being taken to ensure that Gaelic was a major focus of 2007, The Year of Scotland Celebrating Highland Culture.

The report advised that in 2007 Scotland would spend a year celebrating Highland Culture and Gaelic would be at the heart of the event. Planning for the event involved four main areas, flagship events; additional programmes; capital programme; and the legacy.

The report gave details of some the initiatives being considered which included a new major Celtic festival, a major sporting event, an archive strategy and the redevelopment of the Highland Folk Museum at Kingussie. It had also recently been suggested that the event could be used to encourage people to learn the language by promoting the year as "2007, The Year to Learn Gaelic".

During discussion, the Committee was of the view that Gaelic should be at the core of the event and should be used help to reverse the decline in the number of Gaelic speakers; the event needed activities that provided better access to opportunities to study and learn Gaelic; there was a need to define Highland ‘culture’ which, it was felt, included more than just Gaelic language and culture and while not all culture and language in the Highlands had a Celtic origin, this title was well recognised throughout the world and would attract many people and groups who could experience the wider cultural background of the Highlands through locally based programmes and events.

It was also felt that the Council should utilise the expertise of groups and organisations that arranged events such as pipe band competitions, Highland Games, shinty, Gaelic songs and poems etc to work in partnership to organise an event that fully represented Highland culture.

The Committee NOTED the report and AGREED to:-

(i) hold a meeting involving the Gaelic Select Chairman, Education, Culture and Sport Chairman, the Convener and Vice Convener and relevant officials to put forward ideas and establish clear direction for the event;

(ii) support Lochaber in their bid for the National Mod in 2007;

(iii) invite schools to put forward ideas for the event;

(iv) consult with the public and interested partner agencies for ideas for the event; and

(v) promote and encourage existing events to become involved.

There was circulated Report No GSC17/03 by the Area Manager, Skye and Lochalsh, summarising the provisions within the draft Gaelic Language Bill and outlined arrangements to prepare the Council's response.

The First Minister launched the draft Gaelic Language Bill at the National Mod for consultation with responses to be received by 9 January 2004.

Key provisions of the Bill included recognising in legislation Gaelic as a language of Scotland; establishing the Gaelic development body, Bord na Gaidhlig, on a statutory basis to promote the use and understanding of Gaelic; requiring Bord na Gaidhlig to prepare a National Gaelic Language Plan for approval by Scottish Ministers; and requiring public bodies in Scotland to consider the need for a Gaelic language plan in relation to the services they offer.

During discussion, the Committee felt that it was important to liaise with other local authorities such as Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. It was also felt that the Bill could be made stronger with the amendment and insertion of key words and advice should be sought from Legal Services to achieve this.

The Committee NOTED the report and AGREED:-

(i) guidance be sought from the Head of Legal Services and other appropriate sources on appropriate wording to be put forward for key amendments to the Bill;

(ii) a meeting be arranged involving the Gaelic Select Committee Chairman, Education, Culture and Sport Chairman and Vice Convener and relevant officials to discuss the proposed amendments;

(iii) to arrange an alternative date to either meet or hold a meeting via video link to discuss the Bill with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar; and

(iv) the Council’s response be prepared in consultation with the Gaelic Select Chairman, Education, Culture and Sport Chairman and Vice Convener and submitted to the Council on 18 December 2003 for approval.

The Select Committee NOTED that the Council had been one of the funding partners in a scheme to provide bursaries for students studying UHI Gaelic Language courses. The Scheme also involved Argyll & Bute Council and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar as well as UHI.

The original scheme had been set up for a three year period from January 2001 and a request had been made by UHI to continue the arrangement. The Council's contribution was £3,000 per annum.

There was tabled Report No GSC18/03 by the Gaelic Development Officer giving an update of the progress on current issues of interest to the Select Committee.

The Committee NOTED:-

(i) the report;

(ii) that the Scottish Executive Cross Party Gaelic Working Group would be unable to attend a meeting in Inverness; and

(iii) the action being taken by the Scottish Executive to provide bilingual road signs but subject to a further check of the Gaelic place names being used.

It was also AGREED:-

(i) to seek information on whether or not the Scottish Executive intended only to replace signs that required replacement because to do otherwise was likely to produce an adverse public response;

(ii) that Transport, Environmental and Community Services be asked to provide information on progress with the implementation of the Council’s policy on the provision of bilingual road signs; and

(ii) to send a letter of condolence to the widow of Mr Roy Wentworth who had been very active in the support of the Gaelic language and its culture.