Career lessons launched for young Gaelic speakers

Young Gaelic speakers can now access Scotland's national career education resource, following the launch of the Gaelic Language version of Career Box.

Careers Scotland will unveil the new product today (27 April 2006)  to an audience of teachers and those with an interest in Gaelic and education issues at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic college on the Isle of Skye.

Career Box provides Scotland's schools with a framework for career education delivery, and through interactive games, quizzes and worksheets it ensures that there is a consistent approach to career lessons and activities for 3 - 18 year olds.

The Gaelic language version of Career Box has been developed in response to feedback from Gaelic language teachers who identified a need for a professional career education resource in the language.

Funding for the development of the translated product came from Careers Scotland with additional support from the Gaelic development agency, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Currently, there are 2,650 young people being taught in Gaelic Medium Units (GMU) in early year centres and primary schools across Scotland. The Gaelic language version of Career Box supports the school years prior to English being introduced in the GMUs, from early year activities to primary four lessons.

Catriona Eagle, director of Careers Scotland Highlands and Islands, said:

"Young people are the future of Gaelic, and with more and more pupils learning the language, we are pleased to play our part in supporting young Gaelic speakers and their teachers. It has been a pleasure to watch the children enjoying today's demonstration of the Career Box lessons in their first language.

"We launched Career Box in 2003 to increase the relevance of the school curriculum to the world of work and improve young people's decision making skills and self awareness. For the first time, Scotland has a national product that outlines the skills, knowledge and attributes which employers expect from young people as new and future employees."

Careers Scotland is working with schools and local authorities to deliver Career Box across Scotland. Last year, Careers Scotland staff trained more than 800 teachers to deliver Career Box lessons and have themselves delivered lessons to more than 200,000 young people. The product is web-based, to ensure that the materials are updated regularly and of the highest quality.

Catriona continued: "Through Career Box and other activities, Careers Scotland wants to give all young people experiences and opportunities that build confidence, encourage a 'can-do' attitude and introduce them to positive role models.
"It is important that this starts at an early age because we know that some perceptions that can limit young people's career choices are already in place in childhood. Career Box tackles many of the issues affecting today's workforce including gender and ethnic stereotyping."

Leasanan a thaobh dreuchdan air cur air bhog airson luchd-labhairt òga na Gàidhlig

Tha goireas nàiseanta foghlaim dhreuchdan Alba a-nis ri fhaotainn airson luchd-labhairt òga na Gàidhlig as dèidh dreach Ghàidhlig 'Bogsa Dreuchdan' ga chur air bhog.

An-diugh, (27mh latha den Ghiblean) thèid am paca ùr a thaisbean do chloinn, tidsearan agus luchd-obrach Gàidhlig ùghdarrais ionadail, aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, san Eilean Sgitheanach. 

Tha 'Bogsa Dreuchdan' a' cuideachadh sgoiltean ann a bhith a' toirt seachad fiosrachadh a thaobh dreuchdan.  Dh'fhaodadh seo a bhith tro gheamannan, farpaisean no duilleagan-obrach agus bidh e aig an aon àm, a' dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil seo uile a' ceangal a-steach do leasanan a thaobh dhreuchdan agus gnìomhachdan airson clann eadar trì bliadhna dh'aois agus ochd bliadhna deug a dh'aois. 

Chaidh dreach Gàidhlig Bogsa Dreuchdan a leasachadh as dèidh fios air ais bho thidsearan Gàidhlig a mhothaich gun robh feum air goireasan proifeiseanta a thaobh foghlam-dreuchdan anns a' Ghàidhlig. 

Thàinig airgead airson leasachadh an dreach Gàidhlig bho Dhreuchdan Alba le taic bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig agus Iomairt na Gaidhealtachd agus nan Eilean.  An-diugh tha 2,650 daoine òga air an teagaisg ann an Ionadan Fòghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig ann an Alba.  Tha 'Bogsa Dreuchdan' Gàidhlig a' toirt taic do sgoiltean anns na bliadhnaichean mus bi Beurla air cuir an aithne, bho gnìomhachdan anns na prìomh bliadhnaichean gu leasanan ann an clas 4. 

Thuirt Catriona Eagle, stiùiriche Dreuchdan Alba airson A' Ghàidhealtachd agus na h-Eileanan:

"'S e daoine òga a chumas Gàidhlig beò, agus le barrachd clann ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig an-diugh, tha sinn toilichte a bhith a' toirt taic do luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig agus na tidsearan aca.  Tha e air a bhith na adhbhar toileachas faicinn mar a chòrd an taisbeanadh Gàidhlig air Bogsa Dreuchdan ris a' chloinn an-diugh."

Chuir sinn Bogsa Dreuchdan air bhog ann an 2003 gus ceangal a neartachadh eadar curaicealam na sgoile leudachadh agus an saoghal obrach agus gus sgilean daoine òga a leasachadh ann a bhith a' dèanamh co-dhùnaidhean agus a' gabhail ceum air adhart.  Airson a' chiad uair riamh, tha paca nàiseanta aig Alba a tha a' toirt cunntas air na sgilean agus eòlas aig am biodh fastaichean ri dùil bho dhaoine òga mar luchd-obraich ùr."

Tha Dreuchdan Alba ag obair còmhla ri sgoiltean agus ùghdarrasan ionadail airson Bogsa Dreuchdan a thoirt seachad.  An-uiridh, chùm luchd-obrach Dhreuchdan Alba treànadh do 800 thidsearan airson leasanan 'Bogsa Dreuchdan' a thoirt seachad, a tha iad fhèin air leasanan a thoirt dha còrr is 200,000 clann-sgoile.  Tha am paca air an làraich-lìn, gus dèanamh cinnteach gun e an susbaint agus stuth as ùra a tha ri fhaotainn.

Lean Catriona ag ràdh:  "Tro Bhogsa Dreuchdan agus gnìomhachdan eile, tha Dreuchdan Alba an dòchas cothroman a chruthachadh do dhaoine òga a bhios a' togail misneachd, a' brosnachadh beachdan dòchasach agus a' toirt gu an àire daoine a tha air a bhith soirbheachail. 

"Tha e cudthromach gun tòisich sinn air seo nuair a tha clann gu math òg, oir tha fios againn gun urrainn dhan eòlas a th' aca aig an aois seo buaidh a thoirt air na taghan a tha iad a' dèanamh nas fhaide air adhart.  Tha Bogsa Dreuchdan a' dol an sàs ann an cùisean a tha a' toirt buaidh air dreuchdan an latha an-diugh mar gnàth-ìomhaigh a thaobh gnè no cinneachail.