Victorian Education Minister holds meeting with Pharos to discuss future of Modern Greek

·

Members of the Pharos Working Party attended a meeting on Thursday, April 20 with the Victorian Minister for Education, Natalie Hutchins MP, to discuss the Modern Greek Strategic Plan for the revitalisation of the Greek language in Victoria and Australia.

Also discussed during the meeting was the progress of the Pharos sub-committees, and the request for government assistance for a funded position to coordinate the work of Pharos over the next two years.

Mrs Anita Kolaitis, Pharos Working Party Chair and Vice-President of the Modern Greek Teachers’ Association of Victoria, explained that Pharos comprises a broad cross-section of the Greek Australian community and has the united support of all relevant stakeholders.

Mrs Kolaitis noted that Pharos has been approached by other states and other Victorian community language advocacy groups, including VietSpeak, highlighting that the Pharos project could serve as a successful model for other languages.

Mr Theo Markos, advocate for Greek language education in Victoria, updated the Minister and her advisors on the challenges facing state schools offering Greek language programs at primary and secondary levels, the ongoing support of parent networks, the need for qualified language teachers, the cost of living pressures for seconded educators from Greece, and the possible need to revisit an existing Memorandum of Understanding between the Victorian government and the Greek government on matters of education.

Members of the Pharos Working Group and journalists.

Dr Stephie Nikoloudis, Greek Studies coordinator at La Trobe University, emphasised that the detailed Strategic Plan, aimed at ensuring the teaching of Greek and its continued use in Australia beyond the classroom, was developed and is now being implemented under the guidance of Professor Emeritus Joe Lo Bianco, an expert in the field of language education and language revitalisation.

Dr Nikoloudis pointed out that the community-wide campaign that helped to secure the continuation of La Trobe’s Greek Studies program had the widespread support of individuals of both Greek and non-Greek background who value and support a multicultural and multilingual Australia.

The crucial interrelations between all levels of language education (from pre-school to tertiary) were discussed, including the recent success of one of Pharos’ sub-committees in securing state government financial support for Multicultural Story Time at local libraries.

The Minister showed great interest in the work being carried out by Pharos and committed to continuing the discussion with Pharos regarding its Strategic Plan and the revitalisation of Greek.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

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

Advertisement

Latest News

Magna Graecia – Part 6: The eternal return

Across this series, we have journeyed through the Greek settlements of southern Italy, tracing how Hellenic civilisation spread.

Kiato: Greece’s seaside town loved by locals and the diaspora

Kiato is a seaside town, about 25 kilometres from Korinthos on the northern coast of the Peloponnese. On the national highway.

Changing your name and surname abroad and in Greece

It is generally known that in Greece to live and work many foreigners have acquired Greek citizenship by naturalisation or by determination.

Action over inertia: Building the future of the Greek diaspora in Australia

It is necessary that we now be led to the need of finding mechanisms that will halt the demographic withering, the social inertia and the cultural thinning.

Costeen Hatzi opens up on life after Nick Kyrgios split

Costeen Hatzi has spent her summer in Europe, enjoying her first overseas girls’ trip, a milestone that carried extra meaning for her.

You May Also Like

Cyprus election: Far-right party linked to Greek neo-Nazis doubles vote share

The far-right ELAM party and a centrist splinter group made big gains in Cyprus’ parliamentary election on Sunday.

British Museum trustee says rumours of Parthenon Marbles’ return to Greece are ‘overhyped’

A British Museum trustee said rumours of talks between Greece and the museum about the return of the Parthenon Marbles are ‘overhyped.’

Cretan dancing extravaganza at National Convention event in Victoria

There was a Cretan dancing extravaganza at the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand's dinner dance in Melbourne, Victoria on Friday.