Australia is a multicultural and multilingual country. The 2016 Census data showed that more than a quarter of Australia's population was born overseas. To maintain the ties and connection with multicultural communities, learning other languages than English is essential.
Community language schools help Australian kids to learn different languages. It has been an essential part of Australia's multicultural and multilingual society. There are about 700 community language schools across Australia, teaching around 100,000 students in over 80 languages.
Labour Deputy Leader and Shadow Education Minister Tanya Plibersek announced Labor's plan in an event in Sydney, " As promised Shorten Labor Government will invest an extra $8 million in community language schools, so more Australian children get the chance to learn other languages."
Labor will invest this amount throughout four years expanding access to the community language schools.
"Australia is a proud multicultural country, and it is so enriching for our children to be able to speak to their grandparents to understand the culture, the heritage and the history of the country of their parents' origin." Shadow Education Minister Tanya Plibersek
Community language schools are not-for-profit and usually, operate outside mainstream school hours. Volunteers mainly run the schools. As per the announced plan, grants of up to $25,000 per school will allow language programs to be expanded to preschool children. It can also be used for the costs of setting up a new school, better teacher training, or classroom resources.
“Mostly So many volunteers and dedicated community members are giving hours and hours of their time and the community language schools, in many cases struggle to get enough resources for their students.” Shadow Education Minister Tanya Plibersek
Currently, community language schools teach mostly school-age kids. It is believed that if the kid starts learning another language at a younger age, the easier it is to pick up. That’s why we’ll help more community language schools open up their classes to pre-schoolers as well as school-age children.
When asked about the Hindi Language Community School, Ms Plibersek replied that this announcement is important for all community languages.
"Hindi will be one of those languages; This also builds on our announcement last year on our future Asia policies. The more Australians have an opportunity of learning Hindi while they are in school, are not just important to diaspora Indian Community living in Australia but also for our future trading relationship with the fasted growing countries in the World. "
Labor wants to support Community Language schools with increased funding, sharing resources with Public Schools and by providing required training to Community language teachers. On this occasion, Jodi McKay, Member for Strathfield said, " We will also make it easier for Community Language schools to use our public schools, making sure that our public schools and community schools can work hand in hand."
Shadow ministers including Tony Burke, Jason Clare, Michelle Rowland, Shayne Neumann and State Labor leaders were present for this formal announcement in the marginal western Sydney seat of Reid on Saturday.
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