Published on:
12
June 2003
A host of new initiatives are taking off as part of the Council's bid to develop and promote Gaelic in the Wee County.
New opportunities for adults and children wishing to learn the language - and the culture - are already well attended. Adults are learning to speak Gaelic at regular classes which suit beginners and improvers. And for the first time in Clackmannanshire a Gaelic medium toddler group has been set up by parents, and supported by the Council. Now at least 20 under fives spend up to 4 hours per week learning the Gaelic language during play.
Pupils at Alva Academy already have the opportunity to study Gaelic as a standard grade.
And to spread the word even more 1,500 copies of a leaflet 'Gaelic in the Wee County' will soon be available throughout the area.
Councillor Brian Fearon, Convener of the Learning and Leisure Committee said: "I'm delighted that Gaelic language classes are proving so popular in Clackmannanshire. This leaflet should be very useful for the local community.
"Studies with other minority languages abroad show consistently that there is the opportunity of a real across-the-board educational benefit from bi-lingual education. This includes higher average scores in mathematics as well as language. We have high hopes that Gaelic education will make a big impact locally."