The Ulster-Scots Agency has commissioned the Curriculum Development Unit at Stranmillis University College to develop a curriculum and prepare teaching materials which will introduce Ulster-Scots language, history and culture into the curriculum in primary and secondary schools. It was a major task was to devise an Ulster-Scots curriculum suitable for use in schools and compatible with the new Northern Ireland Curriculum.

The Unit is directed by Mrs Hilary Avery, formerly Head of Geography in the University College. The curriculum development has been carried out by six seconded teachers assisted by two research staff.

The Unit's aim is to educate teachers, pupils and the public in general about the Ulster-Scots. Those who study our courses will discover that Ulster-Scots language has an interesting and proud heritage which shows that the speech used in parts of Ulster today was once used in diplomatic and court circles. Primary school children will find some of the expressions used in their area included. The secondary school materials will bring Ulster-Scots literature on to the school syllabus for the first time.

In September 2002 a Primary Project was set up with the appointment of two seconded teachers, Andrea Gilbert and Rob Evans. They researched on content, advances in teaching strategies and curriculum development and then began producing classroom materials. It was envisaged that, after a period of schools trialling, these materials would be published in 2005. Delays occured at the publication stage due to funding problems. After consideration of various publication options, the Agency decided that online publication through the Learning PlatformNI was possible in 2006.

In September 2003 the Agency expanded the Unit's remit to include a Post-Primary Project. Mrs Carol Baraniuk and Dr Linda Hagan were appointed to develop a curriculum and produce course materials for Secondary pupils. A Language Project for teaching Ulster-Scots Language to Adult learners also began with the appointment of Mr Jim Millar.

The Secondary Project is currently being trialled and publication is expected in 2007

The Language Project is also at the trialling stage and it is expected that the 'Introduction to Ulster-Scots Language' Course will be available in regional centres throughout the Province from 2007

At the same time the Agency also set up a Research Project to ensure that all new materials going into schools would be trialled and evaluated. Miss Emma Fitzgerald is the Research Officer.

In keeping with all the activities carried out by Universities, our curriculum development work is underpinned by research and presented to academic peers through research conferences and through publication. We are also particularly pleased that the content areas of our Ulster-Scots curricula have, alongside Irish Language issues, found their place in Irish Studies forums at university level. The development of the Ulster-Scots language has been discussed at the University of Braga, Portugal and staff from the Unit were invited to Charles de Gaulle University, Lille, France with Irish Language colleagues to give a similar presentation. It is notable that Irish Studies Departments in European Universities now recognise Ulster-Scots literature as a dimension within their courses.

You might say that Ulster-Scots is now firmly on the map and scholars are taking a keen interest.

• Primary Project
  
• Post-Primary Project
• Language Project
  

For further information contact

T:  44 (0) 28 9023 1113
F:  44 (0) 28 9023 1898
E:  info@ulsterscotsagency.org.uk

International callers dialling the Ulster-Scots Agency:

Europe - 00 44 28 9023 1113

Australia - 00 11 44 28 9023 1113