Page 141 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 13 February 2008
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves, I have said what I had to say.
MR BARR: We will move ahead with the opportunity to bring to bear resources from the ACT government and, of course, some of the exciting opportunities that are on hand through the federal government involvement, particularly through the fund that the Prime Minister has announced for the study of Asian languages. There is an opportunity throughout this year to work with communities to achieve a very positive outcome. It is disappointing to note the cynical nature of those opposite, but I am used to that, Mr Deputy Speaker.
In response to Mrs Dunne’s comments in this debate, I feel the need to outline to the Assembly the situation in relation to the Italian bilingual program. Mr Deputy Speaker, members would be aware that the bilingual Italian program was established at Lyons Primary School as a pilot program in 2002 in term 3. The program was increased to a 33 per cent immersion program in semester 1 of 2004, then that increased to a 37 per cent immersion program in semester 2 of that year, and then to 50 per cent in 2005. The 50 per cent immersion model is the current model for the program. The Italian government provides just over $30,000 in financial assistance towards the program. We welcome that and continue to work in partnership with the Italian government around the delivery of the program.
As part of the consultation through 2007 for an alternative site for the program, a reference group was established, and that identified two school sites for relocation. Having considered Mawson, Farrer, Duffy, North Ainslie, Taylor, Yarralumla and Wanniassa Hills primary schools and Wanniassa and Campbell high schools, the reference group identified Yarralumla and Mawson primary schools as the two most likely sites and undertook further consultations with those schools.
I am very pleased to say that Yarralumla Primary School has been selected as the most suitable site for the continuation of that program. I would like to read from letters I have received from both the Lyons primary school P&C association and from the Yarralumla school to outline their views on the transition of the program to Yarralumla. The letter from the Lyons primary school P&C association to me as Minister for Education and Training states:
On 27 November, the P&C Committee of Lyons Primary School held a meeting in which the proposed relocation of the Bilingual Italian Emersion Program … was discussed. As more than 80% of Lyons students have indicated they will relocate with the program, all members of the school community were invited to attend.
As you know, Mawson and Yarralumla Primary Schools have been nominated as the final choice for the relocation of the program, and many Lyons parents had taken the opportunity offered earlier in the month to visit the schools and form an opinion on their relative merits.
The views expressed at the meeting were unanimously in the support of the program relocating to Yarralumla Primary School for the following reasons:
1. Yarralumla does not currently offer its students a language program, so the relocation of the BIIP would benefit the school;
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .