Is NZ ready to debate over the need for a second language in schools?
It seems as though New Zealand is not even ready to debate, forget about the readiness to act, on the need for learning a second language in our schools.
This is bit disappointing, especially when a so-called progressive government is in place, which takes pride in preparing the New Zealand of today for the challenges of tomorrow.
This question had become obvious when National Party’s education spokesperson Nikki Kaye, pledged to release a draft bill earlier this week, seeking every primary and intermediate school to offer at least one second-language from a list of at least 10 "national priority languages".
However, when the majority of commentators choose to offer a sugar-coated opinion that the proposition for second language learning in schools “is admirable in principle, but the practicalities are difficult,” then it means that we are not ready to bear the pain that often comes along with deliberations on seemingly difficult questions.
The Education Minister Chris Hipkins believes that this proposition is too aspirational for their government as it is currently besieged in solving the problems in the education sector left behind allegedly by the previous National government to entertain any suggestion of introducing second language learning in our schools.
"We've inherited critical and worsening teacher shortages across a range of subjects, including languages and addressing that is one of our top priorities,” Mr Hipkins told the media earlier this week.
Several teachers’ organisations have rejected the proposition arguing that “it is completely out of touch.”
Indeed, the question of introducing the second language in schools is a difficult one, as it would first come up with the budgetary challenge of finding the money to deliver the resources necessary for second language teaching, and then secondly we would come up the bigger question of selecting which languages to be taught.
It is not clear though what is the more compelling reason for dismissing the proposition as impractical or out of touch – finding the money or agreeing on the selection of the second language.
The selection of languages is contested
Right now, despite our wishful thinking, Hindi – the fourth most widely spoken language in New Zealand – does not find a place even in the National Party’s proposed list of 10 priority languages.
In this regard, it is important to note that while National’s proposition of the second language may not be the perfect especially regarding languages proposed yet, it offers an opportunity to discuss, debate and improvise it in a mutually acceptable manner.
The current government’s choice of rejecting it as too aspirational is also not in sync with the current realities, especially the changing demography of New Zealand.
More often than not, the ethnic migrant communities are tempted to see this debate around the second language in schools not only in terms of gaining an employable skill for the future but also as a question of preserving their language, culture and identity.
The research shows that ethnic migrant communities are better able to contribute in public lives of the host nations where they have greater assurance of preserving their language and traditions.
Anyway, the idea of a monolingual New Zealand in the twenty-first century is in itself out of sync if not yet completely out of pace with the fast-changing demographic profile of the country.
At least a willingness to debate and discuss would bring more good to New Zealand than a mere assertion that second language education is too aspirational as of now.
It seems as though New Zealand is not even ready to debate, forget about the readiness to act, on the need for learning a second language in our schools.
This is bit disappointing, especially when a so-called progressive government is in place, which takes pride in preparing the New Zealand of...
It seems as though New Zealand is not even ready to debate, forget about the readiness to act, on the need for learning a second language in our schools.
This is bit disappointing, especially when a so-called progressive government is in place, which takes pride in preparing the New Zealand of today for the challenges of tomorrow.
This question had become obvious when National Party’s education spokesperson Nikki Kaye, pledged to release a draft bill earlier this week, seeking every primary and intermediate school to offer at least one second-language from a list of at least 10 "national priority languages".
However, when the majority of commentators choose to offer a sugar-coated opinion that the proposition for second language learning in schools “is admirable in principle, but the practicalities are difficult,” then it means that we are not ready to bear the pain that often comes along with deliberations on seemingly difficult questions.
The Education Minister Chris Hipkins believes that this proposition is too aspirational for their government as it is currently besieged in solving the problems in the education sector left behind allegedly by the previous National government to entertain any suggestion of introducing second language learning in our schools.
"We've inherited critical and worsening teacher shortages across a range of subjects, including languages and addressing that is one of our top priorities,” Mr Hipkins told the media earlier this week.
Several teachers’ organisations have rejected the proposition arguing that “it is completely out of touch.”
Indeed, the question of introducing the second language in schools is a difficult one, as it would first come up with the budgetary challenge of finding the money to deliver the resources necessary for second language teaching, and then secondly we would come up the bigger question of selecting which languages to be taught.
It is not clear though what is the more compelling reason for dismissing the proposition as impractical or out of touch – finding the money or agreeing on the selection of the second language.
The selection of languages is contested
Right now, despite our wishful thinking, Hindi – the fourth most widely spoken language in New Zealand – does not find a place even in the National Party’s proposed list of 10 priority languages.
In this regard, it is important to note that while National’s proposition of the second language may not be the perfect especially regarding languages proposed yet, it offers an opportunity to discuss, debate and improvise it in a mutually acceptable manner.
The current government’s choice of rejecting it as too aspirational is also not in sync with the current realities, especially the changing demography of New Zealand.
More often than not, the ethnic migrant communities are tempted to see this debate around the second language in schools not only in terms of gaining an employable skill for the future but also as a question of preserving their language, culture and identity.
The research shows that ethnic migrant communities are better able to contribute in public lives of the host nations where they have greater assurance of preserving their language and traditions.
Anyway, the idea of a monolingual New Zealand in the twenty-first century is in itself out of sync if not yet completely out of pace with the fast-changing demographic profile of the country.
At least a willingness to debate and discuss would bring more good to New Zealand than a mere assertion that second language education is too aspirational as of now.
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