Fèisean nan Gàidheal AGM marks significant expansion of services

This weekend’s Annual General Meeting of Fèisean nan Gàidheal, being held in Fort William on Friday and Saturday, will hear that the organisation’s work in 2011-12 engaged over 40,000 people with nearly 6,000 Fèis participants, more than 3,000 benefiting from traditional music tuition in schools and nearly 8,000 attending Cèilidh Trail performances throughout the Highlands and Argyll during the summer of 2011.

Although its main remit is to support the work of local Fèisean, or festivals, Fèisean nan Gàidheal has been involved for several years in delivering a range of arts and Gaelic language based education and community services. The umbrella organistion, which now supports activities among 44 separate Fèisean, is to extend its reach by offering new services.

The organisation will launch Fèisgoil at its Annual Conference – a new service that will pull together various strands of education and community work. Fèisean nan Gàidheal plans to expand its work in these areas to include a new Gaelic teaching service. Fèisgoil will offer local authorities a valuable service that could help deliver non-certificated Gaelic teaching and areas of the Curriculum for Excellence relating to Expressive Arts, Health & Well-being and Literacy & Gàidhlig. The service could also assist local authorities and public bodies deliver commitments in their Gaelic Language Plans.

Arthur Cormack, Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s Chief Executive, said: “Fèisgoil is a development of a new approach to managing the various issues which emerge from time to time in Scottish schools where there might be little or no experience of dealing with Gaelic. We believe Fèisean nan Gàidheal could offer expertise to local authorities as they embrace opportunities offered by the Curriculum for Excellence to support Gaelic medium education. There are also aspects of Scottish Studies which we feel might benefit from our knowledge and skills base. The Scottish Government’s aspirations to give Scottish children the opportunity to learn three languages is a great step forward and we believe that we are ideally placed to offer local authorities help in providing the resources and skills required to make the initiative work in relation to Gaelic.”

Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s Chair, Catriona MacIntyre, added: “We all know that there are some areas where local authorities are challenged in terms of teacher supply and training which means they cannot always meet parental aspirations. Fèisean nan Gàidheal can help address these issues in collaboration with the authorities whilst contributing in the wider sense to the campaign to increase the number of people learning Gaelic throughout Scotland. School children could increase their Gaelic awareness at a number of levels and then make appropriate choices as they go forward and the changes in the curriculum offer them new opportunities.”

The main areas that Fèisgoil could assist with include Creative Scotland’s new Youth Arts Strategy and Talent Development investment; expansion in Gaelic education required at all levels, supporting Gaelic medium education and strengthening areas for improvement identified in the 2011 HMIe report Gaelic Education: Building on the successes, addressing the barriers; expansion in the use of Gaelic at community level through the organisation of Gaelic medium activities and events as part of Iomairtean Gàidhlig and independently of them and the Curriculum for Excellence requirement for young people to experience Scottish culture.

Arthur Cormack concluded: “While the use of non GTC-registered teachers in schools was not encouraged in the past, Curriculum for Excellence encourages the engagement of people from communities and outwith schools to enhance the educational experience for young people. The Youth Music Initiative has proved that good quality educational outcomes can be achieved by cooperation between classroom teachers and tutors delivering specific programmes of work that enhance pupils’ experiences. One of the main advantages of the Fèisgoil service is that local authorities could deliver Gaelic classes in a very cost-effective manner. They would not, for example, have to train their own teachers with the associated costs of obtaining cover for them while they undergo training. Fèisgoil tutors will be trained to the same standard as classroom teachers are to deliver GLPS. Funding available for GLPS could, therefore, be used entirely for delivery and, since the classroom teachers would have to be present during lessons, they could learn along with the pupils and continue with some Gaelic after a series of Fèisgoil classes ends.”

Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s Annual Report for 2011-12 will be published at its AGM on Friday September 21. It details how the organisation engaged with around 43,000 people during 2011-12; 5,922 young people took part in Fèisean; 3,191 pupils benefitted from traditional music tuition through the Youth Music Initiative delivered by Fèisean in each locality; 2,122 took part in Gaelic drama activities; 16,798 attended the 2011 Blas festival; 7,920 people attended Cèilidh Trail performances throughout the Highlands during the summer of 2011; 44 Fèisean were members of the umbrella organization; £299,811 was granted by Fèisean nan Gàidheal to local Fèisean; and FnG’s total expenditure was £1,408,055.

Fèisean nan Gàidheal a’ leudachadh an dèidh bliadhna shoirbheachail

Tha còrr is 40,000 neach air a bhith an-sàs ann an obair na buidhne Fèisean nan Gàidheal thar na bliadhna a chaidh, le suas gu 6,000 a’ frithealadh nam Fèisean, 3,000 eile ag ionnsachadh ceòl traidiseanta ann an sgoiltean agus faisg air 8,000 an-lùib nan Cèilidhean air Chuairt air feadh na Gàidhealtachd agus Earra-Ghàidheal tron t-samhradh 2011. Sin a-rèir fiosrachadh a thèid a thoirt do Choinneamh Bhliadhnail na buidhne annns a’ Ghearasdan air an deireadh sheachdain seo.

Tha Fèisean nan Gàidheal mar bhuidhinn air a bhith an-sàs ann an obair ealain, foghlam agus coimhearsnachd tron Ghàidhlig son grunn bhliadhna mar tha, ach a-nis thathas a’ coimhead ri saothar na buidhne a sgaoileadh gu raointean nas fharsainge seach a bhith a’ cumail taic ri na Fèisean a-mhàin. Thèid seirbhisean agus cothroman ùra nis a thairgse a bharrachd air a bhith a’ co-obrachadh leis an 44 Fèis a th’ann mar tha.

Nochdaidh iomradh air an leasachadh ùr Fèisgoil aig a’ Chruinneachadh Bhliadhnail anns a’ Ghearasdan, a’ mìneachadh mar a thèid diofar earrannan de shaoghal an fhoghlaim agus coimearsnachd a tharraing còmhla. Tha e an rùn Fèisean nan Gàidheal a-nis a bhith ag obair anns na raointean sin, a’ tairgse seirbheis ùr teagasg an Gàidhlig. Gheibh ùghdarrasan ionadail taic is cobhair a dh’fhaodadh cur ri teagasg Gàidhlig neo-fhoirmeil agus ann an raointean sgoile far a bheil obair a’ bualadh air a’ Churraicealam airson Sàr Mhaitheis, leithid nan ealan, slàinte, litreachas agus Gàidhlig fhèìn. Bidh cothroman ann cuideachd ùghdarrasan ionadail a chuideachadh agus a stiùireadh ann a bhith a’ dèiligeadh ri leithid Phlanaichean Gàidhlig.

Thuirt Stiùiriche Fèisean nan Gàidheal Art MacCarmaig: “Tro Fèisgoil, tha cothrom ann coimhead ri dhol an-sàs an suidheachaidhean a tha a’ tighinn am bàrr ann an sgoiltean air feadh Alba far nach eil eòlas mòr sam bith air a bhith a’ dèiligeadh ri gnothaichean Gàidhlig, agus cobhair a thabhann le sealladh às-ùr. Tha an t-eòlas sin aig Fèisean nan Gàidheal agus faodaidh sinn cur gu mòr ri na leasachaidhean a tha san amhrac aig ùghdarrasan ionadail tron Churraicealam airson Sàr-Mhaitheis ann am foghlam Gàidhlig. Tha taic ann a dh’fhaodamaid a thoirt cuideachd ann a bhith a’ leantainn Eòlas na h-Alba. ‘S e ceum mòr a th’ann gu bheil e an rùn an Riaghaltais cothrom a thoirt do dh’òigridh an Alba trì cànain ionnsachadh agus tha sinne dhen bharail gu bheil sinn mar bhuidhinn ann an deagh shuidheachadh airson a bhith a’ cur ris an stòras agus eòlas a tha a dhìth air leithid comhairlean airson a bhith a’ toirt taobh na Gàidhlig dhen obair seo gu buil.”

Thuirt Cathraiche Fèisean nan Gàidheal Caitriona Nic an t-Saoir: “Tha sinn uile mothachail gu bheil suidheachaidhean ann far nach urrainn do chomhairlean iarrtasan phàrantan son leasachaidhean Gàidhlig a choileanadh air iomadach adhbhar, leithid gainne luchd-teagasg. Tha sinne dhen bharail gu bheil Fèisean nan Gàidheal ann an deagh shuidheachadh cuideachadh le iomadach taobh de na leasachaidhean sin gus an urrainn dhuinn taic a chumail ris an iomairt airson àireamhan luchd-ionnsachadh fhàs, agus cuideachd fios is eòlas mun Ghàidhlig a sgaoileadh gu math nas fharsainge, feadh na dùthcha gu lèir. Tha cothromam mòra ann dhan Ghàidhlig an-lùib gach atharrachadh a tha a’ tighinn air foghlam.”

A-measg nan raon far am faodadh Fèisean nan Gàidheal cuideachadh a thairgse tha Ro-innleachd ùr a th’aig Alba Chruthachail airson Ealan Òigridh agus Leasachadh Thàlantan; an leudachadh a tha a dhìth air foghlam Gàidhlig aig gach ìre; taic a chumail ri foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig agus a’ neartachadh raointean obrach a chaidh a chomharrachadh ann an aithisg a dheasaich buidheann nan HMIe ann an 2011 air Foghlam Gàidhlig: A’ Togail air Soirbheachadh, A’ dèiligeadh ri Bacaidhean; leudachadh air follaiseachd agus cleachdadh na Gàidhlig aig ìre coimhearsnachd tro thachartasan Gàidhlig agus an co-bhuinn le Iomartean Gàidhlig; agus cuideachd na cothroman a tha an-lùib a bhith a’ cur ris an eòlas a tha òigridh gu bhith faighinn air cultar na h-Alba tro leasachaidhean anns a’ Churraicealam.

Thuirt Mghr MacCarmaig: “Ged nach robhas comhfhrutail le bhith a’ cleachdadh luchd-teagaisg aig nach robh teisteanas GTC roimhe seo, tha leasachaidhean ùra a’ cruthachadh suidheachadh far a bheileas a’ moladh a bhith a’ cleachdadh sgilean agus eòlas bhon choimhearsnachd taobh-muigh na sgoile airson a bhith a’ cur ri saoghal foghlam nan sgoiltean agus òigridh. Tha Iomairt Chiùil na h-Òigridh air dearbhadh gun urrainnear moran bhuannachdan a thoirt gu buil tro cho-obrachadh eadar luchd-teasgasg agus luchd-oideachaidh a tha a’ frithealadh phrògraman fa-leth airson eòlas chloinne a leudachadh. Bhiodh buannachdan mòra ann do chomhairlean a bhith a’ cleachdadh taic a tha èifeachdach a-thaobh chosgaisean airson a bhith a’ lìbhrigeadh clasaichean Gàidhlig. Cha bhiodh aca, mar eiseimpleir, ri luchd-teagaisg a thrèanadh agus cha bhiodh cosgaisean trèanaidh a’ tighinn orra. Bhiodh luchd-oideachaidh nam Fèisean aig an aon ìre trèanaidh ri luchd-teagaisg sgoile airson a bhith a’ lìbhrigeadh GLPS. Tha cothrom ann leis sin a bhith a’ cleachdadh maoin a tha air a chomharrachadh son GLPS gu lèir airson an sgeama a lìbhrigeadh seach nach biodh aig luchd-teagaisg chlasaichean fhèin ri bhith an-làthair. Gu dearbh, dh’fhaodadh an luchd-teagasg fhèin a bhith ag ionnsachadh aig an aon àm agus a’ cur ri teagasg na Gàidhlig leis an eòlas sin an dèidh clasaichean nam Fèisgoil.”

Thèid Aithisg Bhliadhnail Fèisean nan Gàidheal airson 2011-12 fhoillseachadh aig a’ Chruinneachadh Bhliadhnail anns a’ Ghearasdan Dihaoine 21mh Sultain. Tha an Aithisg a’ mìneachadh mar a tha suas gu 43,000 neach air a bhith an-lùib obair na buidhne thar na bliadhna; bha 5,922 de dh’òigridh aig na Fèisean; fhuair 3,191 buannachdan an-lùib foghlam ciùil traidiseanta tro Iomairt Chiùil na h-Òigridh ann an diofar sgìrean tro na Fèisean; bha 16,798 neach aig tachartasan fèis Blas 2011; 7,920 neach an làthair aig na tachartasan Cèilidhean air Chuairt tron Ghàidhealtachd thar samhradh 2011; tha nis 44 Fèis fo sgèith na buidhne; chaidh £299,811 a thoirt seachad le Fèisean nan Gàidheal do dh’ Fhèisean ionadail ; agus bha cosgaisean na buidnne gu lèir aig £1,408,055 airson na bliadhna.

Source: Fèisean nan Gàidheal