Gaelic Primary Teachers Graduate

Three Inverness College UHI-based students have graduated from the Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) Primary Teaching with Gaelic course run by the University of Strathclyde.

The course, which is available through Inverness College UHI and Lews Castle College UHI, as well as selected learning centres, is open to graduates wanting to pursue a career in Gaelic medium teaching, filling a much needed skills shortage across highlands and islands.

All three new graduates will be going on to teach in Gaelic medium primary schools throughout the highlands.

Pictured with Bruce Robertson, Highland Council Director of Education, Culture and Sport are (left to right): Mary Johnson from Dingwall, who will be teaching at Tain Primary; Margaret Ford from Acharacle will be teaching in Acharacle; and Gillian MacDonald from Dunkeld who will be teaching at Kirkriggs Primary in Forfar.

“This is a great achievement for all these new teachers,” said faculty liaison Dave Matheson, from Lews Castle College UHI. “They have all gone to considerable lengths to train to be teachers in the Gaelic medium.

 “They can be proud of their achievements and we are confident they will make an admirable contribution to a healthier future for the Gaelic language.”

Bruce Robertson added: “It was a pleasure to officiate at the graduation at Strathclyde and particularly to congratulate the six students on the successful completion of their course. UHI and Strathclyde University have to be particularity thanked for establishing a new route to teacher training for people across the highlands and islands.”

For more information on the PGDE Primary Education (Gaelic Medium) go to www.uhi.ac.uk/pgde.

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