THE Education Minister has rejected suggestions that it should be compulsory for young Islanders to study a foreign language to GCSE level.
During question time in the States Assembly, Deputy Jonathan Renouf asked the minister, Deputy Rob Ward, about whether pupils should have to include at least one foreign language among their GCSE subjects, and whether he considered a language was as “fundamental” as maths and English, which are already compulsory.
Deputy Ward stated: “If we as an Assembly determine what is in the curriculum then we have to recognise what would have to be taken out – we will act as head teachers and I would rather leave that to the professionals.
“The curriculum is limited and we have to think what’s best for students in the long term or you have to extend the school day.”
Language teaching was also raised by Deputy Philip Ozouf, who asked if the minister thought the standard of French in schools was acceptable.
Deputy Ward said he thought the word acceptable was hard to define.
“Would it be nice if every child spoke fluent French? I suppose so, if that’s the way you view our cultural heritage, but what’s going to go from the curriculum?” he asked.
The exchange followed a proposition by Deputy Philip Bailhache, which is due to be debated later this month, that three bilingual schools be established. Deputy Ward has said the plans, which would involve converting three primary schools, could cost more than £2 million to implement and was not the best way of providing high-quality French teaching.
