Representatives of the Comann nam Parant Dhun Eideann, the support group for parents of children in Gaelic medium education in the Edinburgh and Lothian area, came to the council today to call for a dedicated primary school for children learning the language.
The deputation came to the Education, Children and Families committee, where they were reviewing a report about the future of Gaelic education in the city, which is expected to grow significantly over the next few years.
Tollcross Primary School, which has a highly successful Gaelic unit, is now considered to have reached full capacity. It has grown from just seven pupils in 1998, to 132, with six dedicated Gaelic classes and a seventh being proposed for August.
The two options being considered by the committee are to establish a second GME unit at Leith Walk Primary School, or to refurbish and refit the old Bonnington Primary School premises as a dedicated GME primary school - resulting in the closure of the Tollcross GME unit.
Majority of parents in favour
Alasdair Cameron, the convenor of the Comann nam Parant Dhun Eideann, said that they had met last night to discuss the options, and that the majority of parents of 275 children that he represents were in favour of the creating a dedicated new school.
He said that Edinburgh was home to the second largest urban Gaelic population in the world, and that such a school would be a landmark for the capital, and for boosting uptake of the lanaguge. "A dedicated Gaelic School has to be at the heart of our strategy for the capital."
Convenor of the committee councillor Marilyne MacLaren welcomed the report,
but said that there still needed to be debate needed to be had about the value of a dedicated Gaelic school.
She also cautioned that the council is facing a serious financial situation. The report estimates that opening a second unit at Leith Walk Primary would have capital costs £665,000, including necesary upgrades at Tollcross, whilst the refurbishment of Bonnington Primary School would cost £600,000. But the council would lose a potential £1 million from the planned sale of the Bonnington school building, and the dedicated school would have significantly higher running costs.
The committee will reconsider the options for the future of GME education in the city in September. In the meantime, the council will enter discussions with the Scottish Government to see if funding for a dedicated school can be found.
What do you think? Should there be a dedicated Gaelic school in Edinburgh? Is it value for money? Comments below or contact us by email.
