Page 672 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 12 April 1994
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MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION
QUESTION No. 1155
Government Schools - Language Programs
MR MOORE - asked the Minister for Education and Training on notice on 22 February 1994:
Why are language programs being cut in public schools in spite of an Education Department push to ensure that a language other than English is to be taught to all students.
MR WOOD - the answer to Mr Moores question is:
Language programs in ACT government schools are not being cut. The provision of language programs in public schools is under continuing review and programs are being expanded. Greater recognition is being given to Languages Other Than English (LOTE) programs, with the number of students studying LOTE in government schools increasing from 17,421 in 1992 to 19,689 in 1993.
In some schools certain language programs have been replaced by
other language programs, so for instance a German class may be
replaced with a second Japanese class.
In other schools the total school population might be dropping as a result of demographic changes in the community. This affects the number of teachers in a school which in turn can affect the range of subject choice a school might be.able to
offer Schools affected may have:
reduced the choice of languages offered if one of the
languages were not as popular as others and if that
language teacher were not essential to the teaching of
another area of. the curriculum.
• not changed the program, but replaced the teacher covering
the. program with another suitable teacher in the school.
reduced the time allocated to the program. This is
possible in primary schools were timetabling is flexible.
Primary schools not previously offering a LOTE are introducing. LOTE programs and the opportunity to continue the study of a LOTE is being catered for with high schools and colleges offering complementary LOTS programs for students coming on from primary school.
*LOTE remains an important priority for the Department of Education and Training and its schools.
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