Question S4O-03212: Rob Gibson, Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 07/05/2014

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in support for the use of the Scots language in the curriculum for excellence.

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14/05/2014.

The Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages (Dr Alasdair Allan): Our ambition is for Scots to be recognised, valued and used in Scottish life and in schools. The teaching and learning of Scots is included in the curriculum for excellence and provides opportunities for children and young people to become confident individuals, giving them knowledge of cultural heritage and a national perspective. The role of the recently appointed Scots language co-ordinators at Education Scotland will help to support practitioners in teaching Scots while developing Scots in the curriculum and resources.

Rob Gibson: I welcome the Scots language co-ordinators to their posts. Since opportunities to read and use the Scots language can help to develop enthusiasm and motivation for learning, openness to new ideas, self-respect and respect for others—all attributes that fit the curriculum for excellence—are the curriculum for excellence guidelines available to teachers in a clear form that sets up the Scots language in its own right?

Dr Allan: The Scots language is located in the languages curriculum area of the curriculum for excellence and, within that, in the literacy and English sections of the experiences and outcomes. Therefore, yes, Scots is identified in that context. Specific mention is made in the curriculum for excellence of the importance of engaging with a wide range of texts. One of the things that has come to pass without some of the predicted disaster is that young people in Scotland are now quite used to sitting exams that contain Scottish literature and are increasingly enthusiastic about awards in areas such as Scottish studies.