Obair gus tòiseachadh air leudachadh do Bhun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar

Bidh obair-togail a’ tòiseachadh an-ath-sheachdain air dà sheòmar-teagaisg ùr mar leudachadh air Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar.

Chaidh an togalach fhosgladh san Lùnastal 2015 le ceithir seòmraichean-teagaisg agus dà sheòmar sgoil-àraich, agus chaidh a dhealbh gus am b’ urrainn do suas ri ceithir seòmraichean-teagaisg eile a bhith air an cur ris airson coinneachadh ri iarrtas san àm ri teachd, nam biodh sin a dhìth.

Chaidh Robertson Construction Northern Limited a chur an dreuchd mar chunnradair airson a’ phròiseict a tha air a dhealbh is air a stiùireadh le Seirbheis Taigheadais is Seilbh na Comhairle. Thathar air seòmar-teagaisg sealach a shuidheachadh ann an gàrradh na sgoile gus am bi na seòmraichean-teagaisg ùra deiseil san Dàmhair.

Thuirt an Comhairliche Iain MacFhionnlaigh, Cathraiche Comataidh Foghlaim na Comhairle: “Tha sinn an-còmhnaidh a’ cur fàilte air naidheachd mhath aig àm dhùbhlanach. Tha Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar na maoin air leth do Loch Abar agus le iarrtas airson Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig a’ sìor fhàs, tha e riatanach gu bheil na goireasan rim faotainn airson coinneachadh ri iarrtasan na coimhearsnachd.”

Thuirt Cathraiche Comataidh an Taigheadais is na Seilbhe, an Comhairliche Ben MacThòmais: “Tha e sgoinneil cluinntinn gum bi obair-togail a’ tòiseachadh a dh’aithghearr aig Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar gus am bi barrachd rùm san sgoil. Tha iarrtas airson Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig ann an sgìre Loch Abar ag àrdachadh gach bliadhna. Tha e fìor chudromach gun urrainn dhuinn coinneachadh ri iarrtas agus bheir an leudachadh seo cothrom do chlàr na sgoile àrdachadh ri tìde. Chaidh an togalach a dhealbh le aire do dh’fhàs agus ’s e naidheachd bhrosnachail dha-rìribh a th’ ann, às dèidh dìreach sia bliadhna, gu bheil feum a-nis air an leudachadh sin agus gu bheil e a’ tachairt.”

Thuirt Cathraiche Comataidh na Gàidhlig, an Comhairliche Calum Rothach: “Tha an dà sheòmar-teagaisg ùr a tha a’ dol mar leudachadh ri Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar a’ comharrachadh soirbheachas Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig ann an Loch Abar agus tha mi fìor thoilichte gun toir seo comas seachad coinneachadh ris an iarrtas airson Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig agus gun urrainn do chlàr na sgoile fàs. ’S e clach-mhìle shònraichte eile a tha seo ann an eachdraidh Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar. Tha seo na theisteanas air dìcheall luchd-obrach na sgoile agus cuideachd air miann na coimhearsnachd gum bi Gàidhlig aig an cuid chloinne, gum bi foghlam aca a tha a’ freagairt air cultar na Gàidhlig agus gum faigh iad na buannachdan a tha an lùib dà-chànanais bho aois òg.”

Work to begin on an extension to Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar

Construction work will begin next week on a two-classroom extension to Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar, the Gaelic primary school serving Lochaber.

The school building opened in August 2015 with four classrooms and two nursery rooms, and was designed to allow the addition of up to four classrooms to meet future demand if required.

Robertson Construction Northern Limited have been appointed as the contractor for the project which is designed and managed by the Council’s Housing and Property Service. A temporary classroom unit has been located in the school grounds for use until the new classrooms are ready for occupation in October.

Cllr John Finlayson, Chair of the Council’s Education Committee, said: “Great news in challenging times is always welcome. Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar is a fantastic asset to Lochaber and with growing demand for Gaelic medium education it is imperative that the facilities are available to meet the requests of the community.”

Chair of the Housing and Property Committee, Councillor Ben Thompson, said: “It is great to hear that construction will shortly begin at Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar to facilitate additional capacity.  Demand for Gaelic medium in the Lochaber area is increasing year on year. Having the ability to meet demand is crucial and the extension will allow the school roll to increase in due course.  The building was designed with growth in mind and it is encouraging news that after only 6 years’ expansion is now required and happening.”

Chair of the Gaelic Committee, Councillor Calum Munro, said: “The addition of a two-classroom extension to Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar signifies the success of Gaelic Medium Education in Lochaber and I’m delighted that this will allow the demand for GME to be met and the school roll to increase. This is another great landmark in Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar’s story and is a testament to the school staff’s dedication and also to the community’s desire for their children to acquire Gaelic, to have an education which reflects Gaelic culture and to realise the benefits of bilingualism from a young age.”