indonesian_open Autsralian Council of State School Organisations (ACSSO) July 2007

[Harsojo, Ida]

Teman-teman yang baik, 

 

AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF STATE SCHOOL ORGANISATIONS (ACSSO)

The national voice of parents of children in Australia's public schools
and their communities

 

MEDIA RELEASE

 

12 July 2007

 

 

LANGUAGES EDUCATION:  A TIME TO SPEAK - AND A TIME TO ACT

 

"Learning a language in Australia should be like learning Maths or
English" said one teacher respondent to a national Research Survey
conducted by the peak parent organisations in late 2006 "It is a normal
part of the curriculum in which every student should participate.  It is
part of an education for life!"

 

The final Report of that research, "Attitudes towards the Study of
Languages in Australian Schools" was being launched today in Canberra by
ACSSO in conjunction with the Australian Parents Council (APC).  *

 

The Report shows that parents and students across the country have a
similarly strong expectation that languages learning should be an
essential element in a balanced curriculum, and that all students should
have access to an appropriate range of language study opportunities:

 

*	90% of parents and 70% of students said language learning helps
students understand their world 

 

*	74% of parents and 66% of students said it improves their future
employment prospects 

 

*	63% said the best way to learn about another culture is via
language 

 

*	50% of parents expressed real concern about the continuing low
numbers of Year 12 students studying languages 

 

*	70% of parents and most students were strongly against reducing
the number of languages on offer or of watering down the standards of
languages courses 

 

*	Nearly 90% of parents and 60% of students strongly felt that
language study should start in early Primary 

 

*	Some 70% of parents and 40% of students said languages should be
compulsory from early Primary school through to Year 10 

 

Sadly, the results of the research graphically illustrate the extent to
which those high expectations of parents and students - despite the
strongly evident commitment, passion and dedication of Languages
Teachers in schools across the country - are not being met.  

 

Instead, parents and students are telling us loud and clear that their
experience is that continuity, co-ordination and consistency of
languages programs is at an appalling level of disarray both within
schools and between the various levels of schooling - that they do not
have confidence in the level of commitment and leadership to change
things.  

 

It is a sad indictment that 92% of parents and families lack confidence
in either Commonwealth or State systems providing the resources to turn
this situation around.  That lack of confidence is strongly shared by
90% of language teachers, 90% of Principals and 85% of Education
Department people!

 

While Education Ministers from all jurisdictions endorsed a National
Statement  and Plan on Languages Education in 2005, the Survey shows
only about 60% of Principals and other education planners and
administrators seem to be aware of its existence - not surprisingly
then, if the Principals know nothing about it, only about 20% of parents
have heard of it either.

 

The Education Ministers also tell us proudly (2005) that there are
"approximately 50% of students learning a language in mainstream
schools."    That being so, why from year to year are only some 13% of
Year 12 students still studying a language, given the highly positive
expectations of parents and students recorded above?   

 

"So long as we continue to do the same things in the same way we have
always done them, we will continue to get the same mediocre results we
have always got" said ACSSO President Jennifer Branch in launching the
Report.   "So we need to ask and answer the critical question - what are
the things we need to do differently?" 

 

Noting that in May 2007 the United Nations proclaimed 2008 as the
International Year of Languages, Ms Branch posed the further question:
"How can we use the opportunities of the International Year of Languages
as leverage to start doing those things differently?"   

 

"This is a time for everyone with an interest in languages education to
talk together - work together - plan together.  And to act together!"

 

Rupert Macgregor
Jennifer Branch

National Projects Manager
President

 

t.  1800 183 066
m. 0417 381 721

Salam,
ida harsojo
Languages Consultant, Indonesian
NSW Department of Education and Training
3a Smalls Road
RYDE  NSW  2112
Ph: 02 9886 7640
Fax: 02 9886 7160
Email:  ida.harsojo at det.nsw.edu.au
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