PART 2Gaelic education
F1Functions of Scottish Ministers
6ADuty of Scottish Ministers to promote Gaelic education
(1)
The Scottish Ministers must promote, facilitate and support—
(a)
the provision in schools of—
(i)
Gaelic learner education,
(ii)
Gaelic medium education, and
(b)
the teaching of the Gaelic language in the provision of further education by education authorities.
(2)
The Scottish Ministers must in particular promote, facilitate and support the provision of adequate education resources in the Gaelic language for use in school education by teachers and pupils.
F26BStandards relating to Gaelic education
(1)
The Scottish Ministers may by regulations specify the standards and requirements to which an education authority must conform in discharging its functions—
(a)
relating to Gaelic learner education and Gaelic medium education in its provision of school education, and
(b)
relating to the teaching of the Gaelic language in its provision of further education.
(2)
Regulations under subsection (1) may make different provision for different purposes and different areas (including different parts of the area of an education authority).
(3)
In preparing regulations under subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers must consult—
(a)
Bòrd na Gàidhlig,
(b)
education authorities,
(c)
the body known as Comann nam Pàrant (Nàiseanta),
(d)
His Majesty’s inspectors of schools (that is to say, the inspectors of schools appointed by His Majesty under the 1980 Act),
(e)
the General Teaching Council for Scotland,
(f)
persons with an interest in the promotion of the Gaelic language and Gaelic culture,
(g)
persons with an interest in the publication of books and other resources in the Gaelic language, and
(h)
such other persons as they consider appropriate.
(4)
The Scottish Ministers must publish the results of the consultation undertaken under subsection (3).
F36CGuidance to public authorities relating to Gaelic education
(1)
The Scottish Ministers must give guidance to Scottish public authorities relating to—
(a)
Gaelic learner education and Gaelic medium education,
(b)
the teaching of the Gaelic language in the provision of further education by education authorities,
(c)
the development of education mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b).
(2)
A Scottish public authority having functions relating to education must, to the extent that guidance under subsection (1) relates to those functions, have regard to any guidance given by the Scottish Ministers under subsection (1).
(3)
In preparing guidance under subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers must consult—
(a)
Bòrd na Gàidhlig,
(b)
education authorities,
(c)
the body known as Comann nam Pàrant (Nàiseanta), and
(d)
such other persons as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.
(4)
The Scottish Ministers must publish any guidance given under subsection (1).
F46DProduction of school education resources in Gaelic
(1)
When the Scottish Ministers produce any information, guidance or documents in the English language for use in school education by teachers or pupils, they must consider whether also to produce that material in the Gaelic language.
(2)
The Scottish Ministers must, on request from an education authority, consider whether to produce a translation into the Gaelic language of any material of the type mentioned in subsection (1), including material produced before this section came into force.
(3)
In this section, a reference to the Scottish Ministers producing material includes—
(a)
that material being produced, commissioned, procured or funded for or by the Scottish Ministers,
(b)
that material being updated.
6EReview of adequacy of school education resources
(1)
The Scottish Ministers must keep under review the adequacy of education resources in the Gaelic language available for use in school education by teachers and pupils.
(2)
The Scottish Ministers must from time to time prepare and publish a report setting out the steps they consider necessary to address any issues identified by the review.