According to the latest research, the shortage of financiers and teachers has become a common problem for many schools in Scotland. Almost every school in Scotland offers at least one language, however only one out of twenty state schools employs linguistic assistants, which are more common in private educational institutions.
One school requested additional training for teachers and emphasized that "it is expected that they will be teaching French and Spanish, but many of their students have not even reached a basic level in either language." Another lamented that many of its teachers "do not have specialized training or prior knowledge of the French language," and it is suggested that teachers will have to undergo training courses to learn how to deliver lessons in this language.
According to a report on language trends in Scotland, more than half of schools cannot offer specific languages due to an already overloaded timetable, and teachers informed the British Council that they prefer to support lessons at several levels rather than completely remove language courses.
Peter Braun, director of the British Council in Scotland, emphasized the importance of language training and the invaluable influence it has on building bridges between cultures. "We know that learning a language can create connections, strengthen trust and understanding between people, communities, and countries," he noted.
Reports on the shortage of specialists and financiers in schools make us reflect on the prospects for education development in Scotland. According to a survey conducted by the British Council, teachers in state schools are faced with the impossibility of covering expenses for textbooks, foreign language journals and books necessary for studies. It should be noted that only one out of twenty state schools in Scotland employs linguistic assistants.
