New course enables primary teachers to train in Highlands and Islands

29th August 2013

Aspiring primarily teachers can now complete their training in the Highlands and Islands. The University of the Highlands and Islands has launched the first ever Professional Graduate Diploma in (primary) Education available in the region.

There has been so much demand for the new course that, despite little advertising, over 80 people applied for the 20 places available in this year’s intake.

The first cohort of students is taking part in an induction in Inverness this week. Those who pass the nine-month diploma will have met the General Teaching Council for Scotland’s standard for provisional registration and can start their year as a probationary teacher in a Scottish primary school.

The course is being delivered at Inverness College UHI, Moray College UHI, Orkney College UHI and Lews Castle College UHI in Stornoway. Students based at Inverness or Stornoway who are fluent in Gaelic have the option to complete the diploma through the medium of Gaelic and work in a Gaelic-medium primary school.

Applications for August 2014 entry can be made through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry service from November. Candidates must have a relevant undergraduate degree as well as current experience of working with children.

Minister for learning, science and Scotland’s languages, Dr Alasdair Allan, said: “The Scottish Government recommended last December that the Scottish Funding Council should allocate 20 student teacher places to the University of the Highlands and Islands, meaning this is a welcome development that will widen the choice available to those planning on studying for a career in teaching.

“I am particularly pleased that a Gaelic option is available for prospective students. By putting Gaelic at the heart of learning opportunities, the university is continuing to play an important role in Gaelic maintaining its place in classrooms across Scotland. As well as widening access to initial teacher education to people across the north of Scotland, this initiative should also contribute to easing some of the teacher recruitment challenges faced by rural local authorities.”

Shona Scott is one of the new students attending this week’s induction. She explained why she signed up to the course: “I’ve been thinking about training as a primary teacher for a long time, but the nearest course was in Aberdeen. As I live in Buckie and I’m a lone parent, it would have been difficult for me to travel so the opportunity to study in Elgin is just fantastic. I’m really excited and proud to be in the first class and it’s great that the university wants to nurture local talent. The other students in my induction are from all over the Highlands and Islands, including Fort William, Orkney and Shetland. It’s good to meet local people who I might be working with in the future.”

Dr Neil Simco, dean of arts, humanities and business at the university, said: “I am delighted that this month, 20 students are commencing their studies for a primary PgDE (Gaelic and English medium) here at the University of the Highlands and Islands. Working with our local authority partners, we are now positioned to make a real contribution to the teaching profession across the region and beyond. I look forward to building on what has already been achieved to create a truly distinctive addition to the teacher education landscape within Scotland.”

The General Teaching Council for Scotland was responsible for accrediting the course. Chief executive, Anthony Finn said: “We are delighted that this newly accredited course of initial teacher education has proved to be so popular. We have felt for a long time that provision should be made available for aspiring teachers in their local area. This is now a reality in the Highlands and Islands and we wish the university, its staff and students every success for the future.”

To find out more about the Professional Graduate Diploma in (primary) Education, visit
www.uhi.ac.uk/en/courses/pgde-primary-teaching or call the university’s course line on 0845 272 3600.

Gaelic
Tha cùrsa ùr a’ leigeil le tidsearean bun-sgoile trèanadh air a’ Ghàidhealtachd agus anns na h-Eileanan

Faodaidh an fheadhainn a tha airson a bhith nan tidsearan an trèanadh aca a dhèanamh air a’ Ghàidhealtachd agus anns na h-Eileananan a-nis.Chuir Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean a’ chiad Dioplòma For-Cheum Proifeiseanta ann am Foghlam (bun-sgoile) riamh air bhog a tha ri fhaotainn sa sgìre fhèin.

Bha an t-iarrtas cho mòr air a’ chùrsa seo, ged nach deach a shanasachadh gu mòr, ’s gun do chuir còrr is 80 neach a-steach airson 20 àite a bha ri fhaotainn am-bliadhna.

Tha a’ chiad bhuidheann de dh’oileanaich a’ gabhail pàirt ann an seisean inntrigidh ann an Inbhir Nis an t-seachdain seo. Coinnichidh an fheadhainn a shoirbhicheas san dioplòma, a mhaireas naoi mìosan, ri inbhe Comhairle Teagaisg Choitcheann na h-Alba airson clàrachadh sealach agus faodaidh iad tòiseachadh air a’ bhliadhna pròbhaidh aca mar thidsearan ann am bun-sgoiltean na h-Alba.

Thathas a’ lìbhrigeadh a’ chùrsa aig Colaiste Inbhir Nis UHI, Colaiste Mhoireibh UHI agus Colaisde a’ Chaisteil UHI ann an Steòrnabhagh. Tha roghainn aig oileanaich ann an Inbhir Nis no Steòrnabhagh a tha fileanta sa Ghàidhlig an dioplòma a dhèanamh tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig agus a bhith ag obair ann am bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig.

Faodar iarrtasan a dhèanamh airson inntrigeadh san Lùnastal 2014 tro sheirbheis Clàr an Trèanaidh Thidsearan For-cheum bhon t-Samhain. Feumaidh fo-cheum iomchaidh agus eòlas air obair le clann a bhith aig tagraichean.

Thuirt an t-Oll Alasdair Allan, am ministear airson ionnsachadh, saidheans agus chànanan na h-Alba: “Mhol Riaghaltas na h-Alba san Dùbhlachd an-uiridh gum bu chòir do Chomhairle Mhaoineachaidh na h-Alba 20 àite a riarachadh do dh’oileanaich teagaisg aig Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean. Is e leasachadh cudromach a th’ ann an seo a bheir roghainn nas fharsainge don fheadhainn a tha airson ionnsachadh airson obair mar thidsear.

"Tha mi gu sònraichte toilichte gu bheil roghainn Gàidhlig ann don fheadhainn a tha ag iarraidh a bhith nan oileanaich. Le bhith a’ cur na Gàidhlig aig cridhe chothroman ionnsachaidh, tha àite cudromach aig an oilthigh a thaobh Gàidhlig a chumail suas ann an seòmraichean clas air feadh Alba. Cho math ri bhith a’ leudachadh chothroman air treanadh thidsearan do dhaoine air feadh Alba a tuath, bu chòir don iomairt seo cuideachaidh a thaobh nan dùbhlain a th’ aig ùghdarrasan ionadail dùthchail a thaobh tidsearan a thrusadh.”

Tha Shona Scott am measg nan oileanach a tha a’ frithealadh an t-seisean inntrigidh an t-seachdain seo. Mhìnich i na h-adhbharan aice airson a’ chùrsa a dhèanamh: “Bha mi am beachd trèanadh mar thidsear bun-sgoile fad ùine mhòr, ach ’s ann ann an Obar Dheathain a bha an cùrsa as fhaisge. Leis gu bheil mi a’ fuireach ann am Bucaidh, agus mi nam pharant singilte, bha e doirbh dhomh siubhal. Mar sin ’s e rud math fhèin a th’ ann gu bheil cothrom agam ionnsachadh ann an Eilginn. Tha mi gu math togarrach agus pròiseil a bhith sa chiad chlas agus tha e gu math brosnachail gu bheil an t-oilthigh airson tàlant ionadail oileanachadh. ’S ann à diofar pàirtean den Ghàidhealtachd agus na h-Eileanan a tha oileanaich eile san t-seisean, a’ gabhail a-steach An Gearasdan, Arcaibh agus Sealtainn. “Tha e math a bhith a’ coinneachadh ri daoine ionadail agus coltas ann gum sinn ag obair còmhla san àm ri teachd.”

Thuirt an t-Oll Neil Simco, deadhan nan ealain, nan daonnachdan agus gnothachais aig an oilthigh: “Tha mi air leth toilichte gum bi 20 oileanach a’ tòiseachadh air an cuid ionnsachaidh airson PgDE bun-sgoile (tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig agus na Beurla) an t-seachdain seo, an seo aig Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean. Ag obair leis na h-ùghdarrasan ionadail a tha nan com-pàirtichean againn, tha sinn a-nis ann an suidheachadh far as urrainn dhuinn cuir ri teagasg air feadh na sgìre agus nas fhaide às. Tha mi a’ dèanamh fiughair ri bhith a’ togail air na chaidh a choilionadh mar-thà gus rudeigin a tha sònraichte dha-rìribh a chur ri foghlam thidsearan ann an Alba.”

Is i Comhairle Teagaisg Choitcheann na h-Alba a bharrantaich an cùrsa. Thuirt an Ceannard, Anthony Finn: “Tha sinn air leth toilichte gu bheil feill mhòr air a’ chùrsa ùr seo, a chaidh bharrantachadh o chionn ghoirid. Bha sinn den bheachd fad ùine mhòr gum bu chòir solarachadh a bhith ri fhaotainn don fheadhainn a bha ag iarraidh a bhith nan tidsearan anns an sgìre ionadail aca fhèin. Tha seo a-nis a’ tachairt air a’ Ghàidhealtachd agus anns na h-Eileanan agus tha sinn a’ guidhe gach soirbheas air an oilthigh agus na h-oileanaich agus luchd-obrach aige airson an ama ri teachd.”

Airson barrachd fiosrachaidh mun Dioplòma For-cheum Proifeiseanta ann am Foghlam (bun-sgoile), tadhail air www.uhi.ac.uk/en/courses/pgde-primary-teaching no fòn loidhne chùrsaichean an oilthigh 0845 272 3600.