Boost for language learning
Renfrewshire schools are to be given a £ 100,000 handout this year to support pupils learning additional languages, the Scottish Government says.
Lack of language skills has been estimated to cost Scottish businesses hundreds of millions of pounds a year in lost exports.
The Scottish Government says the funding will enable every primary school pupil to start learning an additional language in primary one and a second additional language by primary five, and for language learning to continue to the end of S3. This includes Mandarin, Gaelic and British Sign Language as well as European languages.
It adds that there has been a sustained increase in language Highers and skills-based qualifications in recent years and the Scottish Government’s investment will bid to ensure the workforce has the right skills to make the most of international economic opportunities.
Renfrewshire North and West MSP Derek Mackay welcomed the news.
“Learning languages in today’s world is becoming more vital than it was when I was a kid,” he said.
“In the modern global marketplace, employers strongly favour candidates with language skills. We want to ensure young Scots have these skills, and that is why introducing school children to languages at a young age and helping them to foster a long-lasting love of languages is vital.
“I am delighted that Renfrewshire will receive just over £100,000 from this year’s budget for this, showing yet again that in government the SNP are putting the future of children and young people first.”
Pensioners Elizabeth McLean and Jim Anderson chatted with Glenn Campbell and Shereen Nanjiani about tackling loneliness in the community