Skills for Work at Sgoil Lionacleit

2 Sep 2010 01:33 PM

Education Secretary Michael Russell yesterday opened a purpose built facility that will see more work based courses offered to young people in Uist and Benbecula.

The new building at Sgoil Lionacliet will allow a wider choice of vocational courses to be taught, including skills such as Crofting and Traditional Boat Building which are directly relevant to the local economy.

Education Secretary Michael Russell said:

"Curriculum for Excellence, which is now in practice in all secondary schools, is designed to give young people the skills they need for a positive future. Job based courses clearly have a valuable role to play in making sure the next generation of Scottish employees have the knowledge and skills to find jobs.

"That's why I am particularly pleased to open this new building at Sgoil Lionacleit which will see an improved range of job related courses offered to young people in Uist and Benbecula.

"This is giving young people skills and qualifications in areas that are directly related to the local economy, such as construction skills, crofting and traditional boat building.

"I believe this can help make sure island businesses have the workforce they need and young people don't have to leave in search of training and employment - helping young people into jobs and benefiting the local economy."

Mr Miller Macdonald (Acting head Teacher) said:

"The pupils and staff of Sgoil Lionacleit were delighted that Mr Russell could attend the official opening of the Applied Learning Facility and see some of the exciting projects that the pupils have been working on. Having a workshop for Construction Skills and other vocational courses in the school means that pupils can walk from one lesson in one department to the workshop and have their overalls on and ready to start within a few minutes.

"I wish to thank Education and the Technical Services Departments of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, as well as the building contractors J.J. Macdonald for funding, designing and building this wonderful resource. I also wish to thank Mr Collier, former Principal Teacher of Technical subjects at Sgoil Lionacleit, for establishing the construction Skills course and for helping to fit out the new workshop.

"The basic curriculum in Sgoil Lionacleit is a good one, but we must ensure that we equip pupils with the skills that they will need when they leave school. The adjustments we are making to our curriculum and the new projects we've introduced will help pupils going on to university, college or employment."

Dh'fhosgail Rùnaire an Fhoghlaim, Mìcheal Ruiseal, goireas a chaidh a thogail a dh'aona ghnothaich gus cùrsaichean ceàirde a thairgsinn do òigridh Uibhist agus Beinn na Fadhla.

Bheir an togalach ùr aig Sgoil Lionacleit comas tuilleadh chùrsaichean ceàirde a theagasg, nam measg sin, sgilean a leithid Croitearachd agus saorsainneachd bhàtaichean aig a bheil dàimh dhìreach ri eaconamaidh na sgìre.

Thuirt Rùnaire an Fhoghlaim, Mìcheal Ruiseal:

"Tha an Curraicealam airson Sàr-mhathais, a thathar a' cleachdadh a-nis anns a h-uile àrd-sgoil, air a dhealbhadh gus toirt do òigridh nan sgilean air a bheil feum aca airson beatha shoirbheachail san àm ri teachd. Tha e soilleir gu bheil luach sna cùrsaichean seo ann a bhith a' lìbhrigeadh nan sgilean agus an eòlais a dh'fheumas ginealach ùr Albannach airson obair fhaighinn san àm ri teachd.

"'S e sin as adhbhar gu bheil mi gu math toilichte an togalach ùr seo fhosgladh aig Sgoil Lionacleit, a bheir cothrom raon nas fheàrr de chùrsaichean ceàirde a thairgsinn do òigridh Uibhist agus Beinn na Fadhla.

"Tha seo a' toirt sgilean agus teisteanasan do òigridh ann an raointean aig a bheil dàimh dhìreach ri eaconamaidh na sgìre, an leithid sgilean togail, croitearachd agus seann nòs saorsainneachd bhàtaichean.

"Saoilidh mi gum bi seo na chùl-taic do ghnothachasan nan eilean ann a bhith a' fastadh luchd-obrach, agus gus nach fheum òigridh fàgail airson trèanadh agus obair a lorg. Gheibh iad làmh chuideachaidh a-steach gu cosnadh, 's bidh seo na bhuannachd do eaconamaidh na sgìre.

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