Pupils at a Lanarkshire nursery celebrated world Gaelic week with a range of activities and shared the language with a special visitor.
Youngsters at Sgoil Araich, the Gaelic-language nursery at Tollbrae Primary in Airdrie, welcomed Anum Qaisar MP to their classrooms during the celebration week.
She took part in a lesson on colours and saw the pupils perform a number of “fantastic” Gaelic songs.
The recent celebration week aims to raise the profile of Gaelic in communities across the country and internationally, with figures from last year estimating that nearly a third of Scotland’s population can speak Gaelic.
Pupils from Tollbrae marked the occasion with a Hub Hab workshop led by award-winning Calderbank performer and teacher Katie MacFarlane, plus a ceilidh and a Croileagan outing.
The Airdrie school is one of three in North Lanarkshire providing Gaelic-medium education, along with Condorrat Primary and Greenfaulds High in Cumbernauld; while Mount Cameron Primary and Calderglen High in East Kilbride are South Lanarkshire’s Gaelic provision schools.
Airdrie & Shotts representative Ms Qaisar said: “I was delighted to speak with the teachers and pupils about the great work they’re doing to promote Gaelic, and was fortunate in being able to learn some of the language myself.
“I’m proud that the Gaelic language is thriving across Airdrie and Shotts, and I wanted to pay tribute to education facilities such as Sgoil Araich Tollbrae, who play such fundamental role in ensuring young people have early access to Gaelic education.
“World Gaelic week has been a great opportunity to witness the amazing work that local bodies are doing to keep the language alive – Gaelic is an integral part of Scotland’s heritage and culture, and celebrations such as this remind us of its importance.”
Jennifer McHarrie of Bord na Gaidhlig said: “Gaelic-medium education is a hugely important part of growing the use and learning of Gaelic in Scotland; the benefits of bilingual education are increasingly recognised and provision from early years onwards provides children with these opportunities.
“Participation in world Gaelic week helps pupils and families to be part of the growing provision of activities outwith school which foster greater language skills and confidence.”
She added: “The importance of minority indigenous languages is currently being highlighted by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport consultation on the health and future of minority languages, and we encourage people to respond to it.”
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