MILLIONS of pounds will be invested in developing projects to promote and strengthen the Gaelic language across Scotland.
The Scottish Government said that the single largest part of the £4 million pot would go to delivering a “Community Learning Hub at Lionel Primary School on the Isle of Lewis”.
A total of £1.25m has been allocated for the Western Isles hub.
Elsewhere, £950,000 has been set aside to develop four new classrooms at the Glasgow Gaelic School. The Government said this was in response to increasing demand at the facility.
And Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar, a Gaelic-medium primary school at Caol near Fort William, will receive £900,000 to expand.
A total of £670,000 will go to create a new Gaelic unit at Thornliebank Primary School in East Renfrewshire.
And, in what the Scottish Government says is a world-first, £228,795 has been allocated to create an “indigenous language virtual immersive hub” on Islay.
The new hub will “utilise state-of-the-art technology, including virtual, immersive and mixed reality, as part of a unique Gaelic learning experience”, the Government said.
Phase one of the project is expected to be completed in October this year.
Speaking during a visit to Stornoway, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth (above) said: “There is clearly increasing demand for Gaelic-medium education across Scotland, and the projects chosen ensure that support is there to meet that demand.
“It’s really exciting to see the world’s first virtual immersive hub for indigenous language being built on Islay. Modern, innovative technologies such as virtual reality will be used for the first time to get people involved in learning more about Gaelic and will be a huge boost to the island.
“We will build on the successes in Gaelic education when we present the Scottish Languages Bill to the Scottish Parliament during the current Parliamentary term.”
Western Isles Council’s director of education, William Macdonald, said: “Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is delighted to work with the Scottish Government in developing Lionel School in Lewis with a focus on building a Gaelic community within the school.
“Working with local and national partners this development has huge potential in using Gaelic in everyday contexts in the community. The financial support from the Scottish Government is key to facilitating the development of the school and we look forward to working with them and the community in taking this exciting project forward.”
