Page 684 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 11 February 2009
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community is not always highly valued and language teaching is not sufficiently supported.
Our community school teachers need opportunities to develop their skills, to train in new teaching methods and ways to engage their students. Our education systems need school principals and decision makers to give a focus to languages and cultural development as key curriculum areas. It is particularly unfortunate that the ACT curriculum framework does not encourage the learning of an additional language as a desired outcome for our students. We need quality, sustainable programs which increase student participation and retention.
The ACT government’s current commitment for students to have languages classes for 60 minutes a week is an insufficient time allocation to effectively engage students and is a disincentive to language teachers. I ask the ministers for education and for multicultural affairs to continue discussion with the community and to progress programs and policy with the expectation that all students will learn more than just a few words of another language.
United Nations International Mother Language Day on 21 February gives us the opportunity to highlight the diversity in the Canberra community and to recognise the benefits of bilingual and multilingualism. Remaining fluent and literate in your mother tongue can increase literacy in English and of course has benefits beyond pure language retention.
The multicultural community in Canberra is vibrant and dynamic, as we have seen at the recent National Multicultural Festival. We have many native speakers and people interested in educating others about their culture and language. We need to utilise this strength and enthusiasm to ensure that our non-English-speaking and English as a second language speakers feel involved in all aspects of ACT community life. We must also ensure that the English as a second language programs currently offered by the ACT government are accessible to all, including those from low socioeconomic households and those in outer suburbs.
The draft multicultural strategy mentions that the ACT government will also explore the viability of establishing language learning centres, to enhance the efficient use of resources for the face-to-face learning of community languages. I would be interested in seeing the plans for these centres, how they will work, whether they will include adult education and who will be involved.
Ms Porter has introduced an important topic today by moving this motion, during a week in which thousands of Canberrans have enjoyed celebrating so many different cultures and the richness that that brings to our community. The ACT Greens recognise the importance of language education and cultural diversity and will continue to encourage the ACT government to further enhance language education, whether it is delivered to school children or adults.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Children and Young People, Minister for Planning and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation) (5.44): I firstly thank Ms Porter for raising this important matter. I also
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