Shortfall in additional needs support for dyslexic children in Gaelic medium education (GME) put in spotlight by BBC ALBA's Eòrpa
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The latest episode of BBC ALBA’s award-winning current affairs programme, Eòrpa, delves deeper into the issues facing dyslexic pupils in Gaelic medium education (GME).
Reporter Alasdair Macleod speaks to students, their parents, academics and professionals, and bodies such as Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Education Scotland, to better understand the challenges facing dyslexic children in GME.
Looking at the current resources available in Gaelic and how dyslexia is diagnosed and addressed in GME schools, Eòrpa asks parents of dyslexic children, and teachers, what they feel is missing or could be done to improve their learning through the medium of Gaelic.
Through this, it becomes clear that despite GME becoming increasingly popular in recent years, provision for additional needs support, teaching materials and teachers themselves are not growing at the same rate.
The lack of appropriate resources results in a gap where some pupils are diagnosed with dyslexia too late, often after primary four when most children are already at least seven or eight years old.
“There really isn’t equity between the resources that are available for dyslexia for pupils in English medium education and what is available in Gaelic medium education." - Emma Bolger
Featured in the programme is Emma Bolger, founder of a Glasgow-based lobby group recently set up to raise more awareness and create more resources in Gaelic for those with dyslexia.
She said: “There really isn’t equity between the resources that are available for dyslexia for pupils in English medium education and what is available in Gaelic medium education.
“Teachers within GME are using English language resources, so that’s a really challenging thing.”
Also featured is Bishopbriggs-based parent Heather Laithwate and Gaelic teaching lecturer at the University of Strathclyde, Ingeborg Birnie.
The Scottish Working Definition of Dyslexia, as set out by the Scottish Government, says the following about the condition: “The impact of dyslexia as a barrier to learning varies in degree according to the learning and teaching environment.
“Learners with dyslexia will benefit from early identification, appropriate intervention and targeted effective teaching, enabling them to become successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.”
Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "The Scottish Government fully understands the importance of support for Gaelic pupils with additional needs, including those with dyslexia, and recognises the actions taken by local authorities and Education Scotland to address this.
“We are committed to supporting access to Gaelic Medium Education for those that wish to have it.
“Gaelic teachers are vital to this success and that is why we are continuing to work with a range of partners, including GTCS, Initial Teacher Training Institutions and Bord na Gaidhlig, to create pathways, such as the new Gaelic Additional Teaching Qualification (ATQ) at Strathclyde, for those who wish to enter the sector.”
A spokesperson from Education Scotland said: “We are committed to supporting practitioners to improve the educational experiences and outcomes for all learners, including those in GME who experience literacy difficulties which includes dyslexia.
“Quite often literacy difficulties are an early sign that a child has dyslexia. We recently published a resource which has been adapted for use within GME to support Primary 1 teachers to identify and assess children who are at risk of developing literacy difficulties.
“We also continue to chair the Addressing Dyslexia Toolkit working group that provides an online professional learning resource for practitioners. It includes advice and resources to help practitioners support GME learners through early identification of literacy difficulties and dyslexia. This work will remain a key focus for Education Scotland and our partners over the coming academic year.”
- Eòrpa airs on BBC ALBA on Thursday, November 10 at 8.30pm and will be on BBC iPlayer for 11 months after.
