Bill Wilson MSP

Education in Scots and Gaelic a Human Right — MSP’s Interpretation of EU Civil Liberties Committee Statement

Dr Bill Wilson, SNP MSP for the West of Scotland, today lodged a motion stating that a recent pronouncement by the EU Civil Liberties Committee clearly implied that it was a human right for the children of Scots and Gaelic speakers to be educated in these languages.

He said, “The EU Committee is on record as saying that the right to speak and to be educated in one’s mother tongue is one of the most basic fundamental rights.  Not only do I believe that it is a birthright for children to be educated in Scots or Gaelic, if their parents speak these languages, I also believe it is hugely advantageous to their general education and future prospects.

“This is not a mere assertion.  My recent report on the attitudes of Local Educations Authorities revealed widespread appreciation of the benefits of teaching children to express themselves in Scots.  Happily there is already considerable enthusiasm and expertise in Scots-language education in Scotland.”

He concluded his remarks by saying, “If there are some yet to be convinced by the carrot of proven benefits, then I hope the stick of potentially being accused of breaching human rights will encourage them to take the issue seriously.”

Notes to Editors

1.  Text of Dr Wilson’s Motion

Date of Lodging: 4 December 2008
Short Title: European Parliament Civil Liberties Committee’s Recognition of Right to be Educated in and Speak Scots and Gaelic

S3M-03035 Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): That the Parliament, further to motion S3M-3022 in the name of Jamie Hepburn (European Parliament Committee’s Concern at Human Rights Abuses), welcomes the desire of the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee to promote regional or minority languages, and specifically the statement that it believes that “the right to speak and to be educated in one’s mother tongue is one of the most basic fundamental rights”, and accordingly expresses the opinion that failure to provide education in Scots and Gaelic to the children of native speakers of these languages should be considered a breach of human rights.

2.  European Parliament Press Release

3.  Dr Wilson’s report on LEAs and Scots-language education