A future Brumby Labor Government would provide $8.8 million to support Community Language Schools so Victoria’s multicultural communities can preserve their traditional language for generations to come, Member for Northern Victoria Region, Candy Broad said today.
Ms Broad said local schools such as Sunraysia Contemporary Alevi Cultural Centre, Fale Hufanga 'O Tonga (Tongan Sanctuary of Sunraysia), Mallee Sudanese Community and Hazara Community Mildura would be among more than 200 language schools to benefit from the boost, which will support more than 34,000 students.
““Learning a language helps people to stay connected to their culture and heritage or to learn more about another culture,” Ms Broad said.
“Labor will support families so they can continue to speak their own language and stay connected to the traditions of their homeland.
“This $8.8 million investment will increase the subsidy for students to $200 per student over the course of the next four years
“Victorians are proud of our rich cultural diversity – we come from more than 200 countries, speak 200 languages and follow more than 120 faiths – we’re a multicultural community.
“There are more than 1000 teachers supporting 34,000 students at more than 200 schools in Victoria and community language schools are growing as Victoria’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities seek to preserve their languages,” he/she said.
Ms Broad said the Community Language Schools Program was important as it enabled students access to languages spoken at home outside of school hours.
“The costs associated with rent, technology, and other teaching tools have all gone up which is why Labor will invest $8.8 million to boost the capacity of Community Language Schools,” she/he said.
“This important funding boost will ensure our students have access to first-class education.”