Thachair Ceannard Ùghdarras Theisteanas na h-Alba (SQA) ri sgoilearan is tidsearan aig Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu gus 30 bliadhnaichean a chomharrachadh de bhith a’ tabhann teisteanasan nàiseanta ann an cànan Dùthchasach na h-Alba.
Choinnich Fiona Robertson – ’s i cuideachd Prìomh Oifigear Sgrùdaidh na h-Alba – ri Ceannard na Sgoile, Gillian Chaimbeul-Thow, sgoilearan is àrd luchd-obrach gus cluinntinn bhuapa fhèin mu am beachdan is eòlasan ann a bhith ag obair a dh’ionnsaigh ’s a’ lìbhrigeadh theisteanasan SQA aig an sgoil.
Bidh an ath bhliadhna a’ comharrachadh an 25mh ceann-bliadhna o chionn fosgladh Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu – a-nis Bun-sgoil is Sgoil-àraich Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu, isÀrd-sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu – agus ’s e 2023 an 30mh ceann-bhliadhna de SQA a’ tabhann teisteanasan nàiseanta is deuchainnean tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig.
Ann an 1993, thòisich a’ bhuidheann a bh’ ann ro SQA air Ìrean Coitcheann a thabhainn ann am Matamataig (Mathematics), Eachdraidh (History), Nuadh-eòlas (Modern Studies) agus Cruinn-eòlas (Geography).
Thuirt Ms Robertson: “Tha e na urram a bhith air ar làn-bhogadh sa Ghàidhlig ’s ga cluinntinn tro na trannsaichean is seòmraichean-teagaisg, is gu bheilear a’ cur fàilte oirnn ann an àite a tha cho mòr na choimhearsnachd ri na àite ionnsachaidh is teagaisg.
“ThaÀrd-sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu gu mòr air thùs agus na ceannard chan ann a-mhàin ann am foghlam na Gàidhlig, ach air feadh na coimhearsnachd foghlaim air fad. Tha sin mar mholadh air obair dhìcheallach nan tidsearan ’s a’ cheannardas sgoile – ach as motha air an luchd-ionnsachaidh òg an seo.
Thug sgoilearan is tidsearan seachad an cuid eòlais air raon farsaing de theisteanasan a lìbhrigeadh ’s a ghabhail os làimh am-bliadhna, a’ gabhail a-steach an sreath de theisteanasan Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig (FMG) aig SQA air fad, cho math ri curraicealam àrd-ìre leudaichte anns a bheil Eòlas Gnothachais (Business Studies), Dealbhadh Geamannan Compiùtair, (Computer Games Design), Frangais (French), Spàinntis (Spanish), Gearmailtis (German), Togail Dhealbh (Photography), agus Sàr Àrd-ìre a’ gabhail a-steach Gàidhlig, Fiosaigs (Physics), Bith-eòlas (Biology), Beurla (English), agus Matamataig (Mathematics). Tha an sgoil cuideachd air cothroman a chur am meud airson tuilleadh buileachaidh tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig, a tha air a bhith fìor mhath gus an cànan a sgaoileadh gu sòisealta ann an agus timcheall air coimhearsnachd na sgoile.
Thuirt Ceannard-sgoile, Ms Chaimbeul-Thow: “’S ann aig cridhe Àrd-sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu a tha cànan agus cultar na Gàidhlig ann an suidheachadh bailteil. Tha an dealas bho theaglaichean ’s a’ choimhearsnachd air leth ann a bhith a’ cumail taic ri ar n-òigridh is leasachadh a’ chànain agus na phàirt mhòr de na tha a’ fàgail na sgoile na àite shònraichte. Tha an luchd-obrach air leth dealasach a thaobh FMG a thoirt air adhart is teisteanasan FMG a leudachadh is mòran dhiubh an sàs sa phròiseact nàiseanta An t-slighe.”
’S e seo an tadhal as ùire ann an cuairt a tha Ms Robertson a’ gabhail timcheall na dùthcha, a chluinntinn gu dìreach bho thidsearan nan seòmraichean-teagaisg agus luchd-ionnsachaidh mun eòlas a th’ aca air teisteanasan a lìbhrigeadh ’s a ghabhail.
Bidh na beachdan a’ toirt fiosrachadh dhan obair a tha a’ bhuidheann a’ dèanamh gus gluasad dhan t-sreath ùr de theisteanasan nàiseanta is gus bathar is seirbheisean SQA a th’ ann an-dràsta a leasachadh tuilleadh ’s a dhèanamh nas fheàrr sa gheàrr-ùine.
Thuirt Ms Robertson cuideachd: “Tha sinn ag obair gu dìcheallach a dhèanamh cinnteach gum faod a’ bhuidheann theisteanas nàiseanta ùr airson Alba togail air a’ bhunait làidir a th’ againn ann a bhith a’ cumail taic ri Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig.
“Bidh SQA a’ cumail orra ag obair le Àrd-sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu is gus taic a chumail ri FMG air feadh na h-Alba gus an gealladh ‘Da chanan, da chultar, iomadh cothrom’ (two languages, two cultures, many opportunities) a choileanadh.
“Bidh sinn a’ dèanamh seo tro ar sgiobaidhean de Mhanaidsearan Ceangail is Roinneil, a bhios ag obair gach latha le sgoiltean thar na dùthcha, a’ toirt comhairle is taic dhaibh ann an lìbhrigeadh theisteanasan.
“Tha e air leth cudromach gun èist sinn ri beachdan na feadhainn air a bheil sinn a’ frithealadh, is bidh mi a’ toirt na chunnaic mi ’s a chuala mi an-diugh air ais dha na sgiobaidhean agam, gus am faod sinn lìbhrigeadh san dòigh as fheàrr as urrainn dhuinn.
“Tha mi airson taing mhòr a thoirt do luchd-obrach is sgoilearan Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu airson na h-ùine a chuir sinn seachad còmhla an-diugh is gur math a thèid leis na daoine òga uile san cuid ionnsachaidh am-bliadhna.”
Mu Theisteanasan Gàidhlig / FMG
Gheibhear tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mu sholar Gàidhlig an SQA, agus faodar cùrsaichean FMG fhaighinn an seo.
Gheibhear na h-àireamhan buileachaidh Gàidhlig / FMG as ùire air làrach-lìn an SQA.
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The Chief Executive of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) met pupils and teachers at Glasgow Gaelic school to mark 30 years of national qualifications being offered in Scotland’s indigenous language.
Fiona Robertson – who is also Scotland’s Chief Examining Officer – met with Head Teacher, Gillian Chaimbeul-Thow, pupils, and senior staff members to hear directly about their views and experiences of working towards and delivering SQA qualifications at the school.
Next year marks the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Glasgow Gaelic Primary School – now Glasgow Gaelic Primary and Nursery School, and Glasgow Gaelic Secondary School (Àrd-sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu) – while 2023 is the 30th anniversary of SQA providing national assessments and examinations in the medium of Gaelic.
In 1993, SQA’s predecessor began to offer Standard Grades in Matamataig (Mathematics), Eachdraidh (History), Nuadh-eòlas (Modern Studies) and Cruinn-eòlas (Geography).
Ms Robertson said: “It has been a privilege to be immersed in the Gaelic language and hear it echo through the corridors and classrooms, and to be welcomed into what is as much a community as it is a place of learning and teaching.
“Àrd-sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu is very much a trailblazer and a leader not only in Gaelic education, but across the entire education community. That is a tribute to the hard work of the teachers and the school leadership – but most of all to the young learners here.
Pupils and teachers shared their experiences of delivering and undertaking a wide range of qualifications this year, including all of SQA’s Gaelic Medium Education (GME) suite of qualifications as well as an expanded senior phase curriculum including Business Studies, Computer Games Design, French, Spanish, German, Photography, and Advanced Highers including Gàidhlig, Physics, Biology, English, and Mathematics. The school has also increased the opportunities for wider achievement through the medium of Gaelic language which has been a great way to get the language into a more social setting in and around the school community
Head Teacher, Ms Chaimbeul-Thow, said: “At the heart of Àrd-sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu is Gaelic language and culture in an urban setting. The commitment from the families and community in supporting our young people and the development of the language is outstanding and a huge part of what makes the school a unique place. The staff are hugely committed to taking forward GME and to the expansion of GME qualifications with many of them being involved in the national An t-slighe project.”
The visit is the latest in a series of visits that Ms Robertson is undertaking around the country, to hear first-hand from classroom teachers and learners about their experiences of delivering and taking qualifications.
The views will inform the work being undertaken by the organisation to transition to the new national qualifications body and to further develop and improve current SQA products and services in the short term.
Ms Robertson added: “We are working hard to help ensure that the new national qualifications body for Scotland can build upon our strong foundation in supporting Gaelic Medium Education.
“SQA will continue to work with the Àrd-sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu and in support of GME across Scotland to deliver upon the promise of ‘Da chanan, da chultar, iomadh cothrom’ (two languages, two cultures, many opportunities).
“We do this through our teams of Liaison and Regional Managers, who work with schools across the country daily, giving them advice and support in the delivery of qualifications.
“It is so important that we listen to the views of those we serve, and I will be taking back what I have seen and heard today to my teams, so we can deliver in the best way we can.
“I want to sincerely thank the staff and pupils of the Glasgow Gaelic School for the time we spent together today and wish all the young people good luck in their studies this year.”
About SQA Gaelic / GME Qualifications
More information about SQA’s provision of Gaelic, and GME courses can be found here.
Latest Gaelic / GME attainment figures can be found on the SQA website.
