NICOLA Sturgeon has said young people should be educated about the Scots language as it is “part and parcel of understanding who you are".
In an interview for The Cultural Coven podcast, the First Minister was asked by host Nicola Roy if there should be teaching of Scots in schools.
Sturgeon said there should be the ability to do that – in a similar way as efforts are made to preserve and protect the Gaelic language.
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She added: “I do think it should be part of what we offer in schools.
"But it also about almost educating young Scottish people to know that while you don’t necessarily speak Scots as a language, your own conversation and dialogue is littered with Scots words and phrases all the time and to engender a sense of understanding and appreciation of that.
“Because it is all part and parcel of understanding who you are and where you come from.”
As part of this year's Census everyone living in Scotland was asked if they can understand Scots, speak Scots, read Scots and write Scots.
The 2011 Census was the first time this topic was included, with 1.5 million people responding that they spoke Scots.
READ MORE: Scottish Census 2022: Website launches to help people understand ability in Scots
The Scots Language Centre said the SQA’s Scots Language Award, which was introduced in 2014, has seen a “heartening uptake” among S3 to S6 pupils, further education and adult learners.
The Curriculum for Excellence also supports the use of Scots for children wanting to learn a second modern language, it added.
Dr Michael Dempster, director at the Scots Language Centre, said the comments of the First Minister supporting the teaching of Scots were “very much welcome”.
He added: “Scots is, of course, the first language of a substantial proportion of learners in Scotland and we at the Scots Language Centre both advocate for, and directly support teachers and learners in, maximising Scots use across the curriculum to best support learners.
“Our language has been historically marginalised and we welcome all moves to rehabilitate its use, and the inclusion of Scots speakers, in all our public spheres.
“We welcome and will support the continued development of Scots in our schools."
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