NSW Labor to invest $17.9 million to support community languages in schools

·

NSW Labor has announced it will invest an additional $17.9 million into the NSW Community Languages Schools Program to make learning a language more affordable and accessible. 

This commitment is the biggest increase in funding for community languages in more than a decade. 

A key feature is a $100 rebate for parents whose children pass their end-of-year exams and achieve an 85 percent attendance record throughout the year. The rebate will reduce the overall costs parents pay for language classes and help foster attendance. 

Other features of Labor’s policy include: 

  • Increasing the per capita grant to $200 per eligible student;
  • Improving security of tenure for language schools with three-year agreements for the use of a host government school; 
  • Expanding the use of digital and online lessons to give regional and rural students the opportunity to participate in language classes if none operate near them; and 
  • Establishing a professional pathway for the 3,000 community language teachers to become qualified to teach in NSW public schools. 

There are 35,000 students studying 60 different languages in more than 250 community language schools across NSW.

The policy is part of NSW Labor’s Fresh Start Plan to support diverse communities and promote a vibrant multicultural society in NSW. 

NSW Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism, Steve Kamper, said “speaking more than one language is an increasingly valuable skill in a globalised world.”

“Labor’s policy will make it easier and more affordable for every child who wants to learn a language to do so,” Mr Kamper said.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

How Maih Porfyri’s career pivot took her from fashion to the Paralympics

Maih Porfyri had only been in her job for a few months before she was whisked away on a trip to Paris to cover the Paralympic Games.

My partner doesn’t speak Greek – Can we still raise bilingual kids?

You can absolutely raise bilingual children, even if only one parent speaks Greek. Across the world, countless families do so successfully.

Joint bank accounts: Who gets the money?

All people named in a joint account are privy to the money by Law. Most of us have opened accounts at various bank branches.

Vergina considered among the world’s most mysterious destinations

Featured alongside global wonders, Vergina earns its place through a mystery that has eluded scholars for centuries.

Gender in Modern Greek: Dr Angeliki Alvanoudi to give online seminar

The aim of the seminar is to examine the role of Greek gendered terms in sustaining social gender ideologies that reinforce sexism.

You May Also Like

Cyprus Community of NSW postpone controversial Stanmore property vote

The Cyprus Community of New South Wales has postponed its Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on Sunday, October 22.

St Spyridon Parish to bring Greek community together with ‘Family Taverna Night’

St Spyridon Parish is hosting a ‘Family Taverna Night’ on Friday April 29 at 7pm at the Church parish hall.

Peter Papas condemns thief for targeting his popular Sydney Greek restaurant

The owner of Kazzi Beach Greek in Balmoral, Sydney, has spoken out after a thief brazenly stole a tip jar from his restaurant.