Community Language Schools Forum night with Education Minister
Representatives from 37 community language schools across New South Wales expressed delight at the doubling of funds for their schools in what is considered a historic package grant from the NSW government helping promote multiculturalism in the State.
School administrators, volunteers and students joined a Forum Night on 16 December with Education Minister Verity Firth who spoke on the details of the new funding.
The Forum, which turned into a sort of a thanksgiving affair, was held at the Cyprus Community Centre in Stanmore and organised by the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools.
“Community Language Schools provide an invaluable service ensuring children across the State maintain strong links to their heritage through language,” Minister Firth said.
Deputy Premier and Member for Marrickville Carmel Tebutt was among guests that included consul generals and other officials from the Department of Education and Training.
The funding meant a package of $8.5million to be allocated by the NSW government over the next four years to double Community Language School funding from $60 to $120 per student a year. More than 33,000 children from over 400 community language schools – translating to 48 languages and dialects – around NSW will benefit from the program.
“The funding increase by the Keneally Government is a very welcome recognition of our hard work and the importance of teaching languages,” said Albert Vella president of the NSW FCLS which for the past five years had campaigned and lobbied for the funds.
The funding package will also enable the language schools to apply for funds under the State’s $500,000 grant to purchase updated textbooks and resources for the year 2011. Another $2,500 start-up grants for qualified applicants will also help encourage the establishment of Community Language Schools for new languages in new areas.
The Forum was opened with a colourful program featuring a students’ dance from the Cook Island Community Language School.
More information on the program can be seen at www.det.nsw.edu.au. | 
