Stòrlann Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig leading joint partnership with CCEA

27 August 2010

Stòrlann Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig, the national agency for commissioning and distributing Gaelic education resources, are to lead on providing a resource for both Gaelic Medium and Irish Medium schools, with its Irish counterpart the Council for Curriculum, Examination and Assessment (CCEA).

At an education resource seminar held in Belfast, hosted by CCEA, the collaboration initiative between Stòrlann and CCEA was officially launched by the Northern Ireland Assembly Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, who said: “Collaboration between experts from across Ireland and Scotland will deliver a new range of innovative Irish-medium educational resources.

Irish Medium is the fastest growing sector of the local education system, seeing significant growth in recent years. There is clear and increasing demand for education at all ages and levels delivered in the native language of our island and this is very encouraging.

“This new initiative will galvanise links between the sectors in Ireland and Scotland and see an unprecedented pooling of expertise. This will enable the development of a cutting edge range of resources for Irish medium education, crucially providing equality of provision with English medium education.

“I thank all the organisations from across Ireland and Scotland for their commitment to this progressive initiative and look forward to seeing the results of their hard work in the future.”

Johanna Marshall, CEO of Stòrlann Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig said: “Stòrlann are delighted to be at the lead of this progressive initiative which will provide a quality resource for the Irish Gaeilge Medium and Scottish Gaelic Medium schools.

There are so many similarities in our culture and language that the resource, which will be a collection of traditional tales, will enhance that link between our two nations.

This opportunity of working with our Irish colleagues will pave the way for what will be the beginning of sharing and collaborating on further projects.

This book will enable pupils to see the cultural similarities between the two countries, and will contribute to Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s aim of increasing the number of Gaelic speakers.”

Richard Hanna, Director of Education Strategy at CCEA said: “There has already been much good work between the various partners here today; however this seminar offers a great opportunity to bring together all of the available resources and look at ways to collaborate in the future, to ensure that schools and students have the best possible materials.

This kind of collaborative work means that we can work towards a common goal, providing quality resources and ensuring value for money.”

The education resource seminar was an all-Ireland partnership, with input from the Department of Education and Science (DES), Foras na Gaeilge and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG).

More than 40 people attended the event, which also included a performance by the choir of Scoil na Fuiseoige, Belfast.