Croman Mac Nessa: Gàidhlig News (2)

[Elizabeth J. Pyatt]

From: XPrinceHawkX at aol.com
Date: Fri, 24 May 2002 01:10:34 EDT
Subject: Re: Gàidhlig News
To: gaidhlig4u at lists.sonic.net, GAIDHLIG-B at LISTSERV.HEANET.IE,
         CELTLING at LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG

Officials 'blocking bid to save Gaelic'
David Ross. The Herald. 24th May, 2002.

CIVIL servants were accused by a Highland councillor yesterday of
obstructing attempts to save the Gaelic language.

Dr Michael Foxley, chairman of Highland Council's land and environment
committee and a prominent campaigner for the Gaelic culture, claimed that
former government ministers had informed him about "obstructive" officials.

He warned that the unnamed officials could stop implementation of the report
by the ministerial advisory group on Gaelic (Magog), published yesterday,
and also accused them of misleading Nicol Stephen, depute education
minister, on the crisis shortage of Gaelic teachers.

But last night the executive dismissed Dr Foxley's allegations.

The report, A Fresh Start for Gaelic, warned it was the last chance for the
language to survive.

Its recommendations include the introduction of a Gaelic language act, a
Gaelic development agency and Civil Service liaison unit, and doubling
funding given to the language to around £10m a year.

Dr Foxley said yesterday: "Nicol Stephen was quoted in the papers as saying
there was absolutely no need for emergency measures to increase Gaelic
teacher numbers.

"He's clearly ignorant of the situation, but what is even worse is that this
must be the briefing he has been given by civil servants.

"We have a complete lack of Gaelic-medium teachers . . . there are gaps in
supply, learning support and advice. The Magog report highlights the need
for emergency teacher training.

"We need to get at the civil servants providing these briefings. We have to
act now and one of the actions is to make sure these civil servants lose
their jobs.

"I have spoken to four people who have worked as ministers in the Scottish
Office or Scottish Executive.

"All have given me repeated examples of how their political intentions have
been thwarted or bypassed or ignored or reversed by the civil servants."

However, a spokeswoman dismissed his comments as being without foundation,
adding: "The Scottish Executive is committed to the support and promotion of
Gaelic.

"Mike Watson, who is the first Scottish cabinet minister with responsibility
for the language, has reaffirmed his support; he has met the main Gaelic
organisations, and yesterday he took receipt of the report of the
ministerial advisory group on Gaelic."

- May 24th

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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Elizabeth J. Pyatt, Ph.D.
Instructional Designer
Education Technology Services
Penn State University
ejp10 at psu.edu, (814) 865-0805

228A Computer Building
University Park, PA 16801
http://www.personal.psu.edu/ejp10