Skills for Work at Sgoil Lionacleit

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.

“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 basedcourses 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 Lionacleitwhich 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 needand young people don’t have to leave in search of training and employment – helping young people into jobs and benefiting the local economy.”

“College or employment.”

Mr Miller Macdonald (Acting head Teacher) said:

“The pupils and staff of Sgoil Lionacleit were delighted that Mr Russell could attendthe official opening of the Applied Learning Facility and see some of the excitingprojects that the pupils have been working on. Having a workshop for ConstructionSkills and other vocational courses in the school means that pupils can walk from onelesson in one department to the workshop and have their overalls on and ready tostart 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, designingand building this wonderful resource. I also wish to thank Mr Collier, former Principal Teacher of Technical subjects at Sgoil Lionacleit, for establishing the constructionSkills 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. Theadjustments we are making to our curriculum and the new projects we’ve introduced will help pupils going on to university, college or employment.”

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