A new app that lets preschoolers learn Indonesian or Mandarin has been branded a costly blowout by federal Labor.
The federal government is considering expanding a trial of the play-based app, with which more than 1700 children so far have learnt Japanese, Indonesian, French, Mandarin and Arabic.
Education Minister Simon Birmingham has hinted it could be rolled out across the country next year but is reserving his final decision until an evaluation is finalised.
But the opposition says it has only reached a fraction of the number of children the government had estimated would receive the app.
"At this rate it will take 250 years to meet the target outlined in the government's election policy," shadow families spokeswoman Jenny Macklin said.
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The app costs taxpayers $27,000 per day, she added.
The minister believes it's concerning that fewer students are studying another language than they did decades ago.
The proportion of year 12 students studying a language has dropped from 40 per cent in the 1960s to 12 per cent today.
"When you see preschoolers using a language that isn't their native tongue to bake cakes, to count and even to sing songs, it's easy to understand why the feedback has been so positive from preschools, children, educators and parents," Senator Birmingham said.
The government wants to use the language app trial as the foundation for another app to help kids learn science and maths, at a cost of $6 million.
Senator Birmingham says any existing resources at preschools will be utilised to ensure costs remain low.
"I am confident we can find an effective, low-cost way to make this accessible to every single preschool in the country," he told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.
