A former board member of the national Gaelic development agency, Bord na Gaidhlig, has criticised the organisation over its failure to adopt a more radical approach to the provision of Gaelic medium education.
Dr Michael Foxley served as a director of the Bord from 2006 to 2012 and has now called on the organisation to implement policies which will lead to a significant expansion in the number of Gaelic schools, particularly across the Highlands and Islands, with the target of at least one new Gaelic unit being created each year.
He also called for a second Gaelic school in Inverness – and for it to be funded by development companies who are able to cash in on the city’s housing boom.
Dr Foxley, who was also leader of Highland Council, said the “indigenous language of the Highlands deserves to be actively promoted”.
“We need to actively and regularly promote the advantages and benefits of becoming bilingual in Gaelic and English – from primary school to the employment opportunities that are available and even in the fact that having the language can delay the onset of dementia,” he said.
“Current efforts are inadequate, patchy and poor.”
Dr Foxley’s critique came as part of his submission to a consultation on a new Gaelic Language Plan being devised by Highland Council.
A spokesman for Bord na Gaidhlig said it would be “inappropriate” for them to comment on individual submissions to consultations.
