Canberra’s community language schools enable more than 2000 Canberra kids to be educated in their languages and culture. Despite the clear benefits they provide, ACT Community Language Schools are significantly underfunded compared to similar programs in other Australian states.
The single biggest change the ACT government could make would be to make teaching spaces in public schools free to hire for community language schools. We are also calling for secure and ongoing access to classrooms, proper funding and professional development for teachers.
Can you send a letter to the ACT Government Treasurer, Minister for Education and Minister for Multicultural Affairs to ask them to properly fund the community language schools in the next budget?
Fill in your details and include a message to Minister Barr, Minister Berry and Minister Cheyne to go along with the following:
Community Language Schools build connection within communities; encourage social cohesion; strengthen familial ties through shared language; and provide cognitive and educational benefits for students.
Despite the clear benefits they provide, ACT Community Language Schools have been neglected. The Review of the Investment in ACT Community Language Schools found that ACT Community Language Schools have been significantly underfunded in comparison with similar programs in other Australian states. In its response to the review, the ACT Government agreed only “in principle” to the recommendations regarding funding and professional development. This reflects a lack of commitment to the multicultural and education sector.
Our Community Language Schools need the active support of this government. We need:
- Free and ongoing access to classrooms.
- Professional development for educators.
- Increased funding and more equitable distribution of funds.
This government has committed to “using the Wellbeing Framework and the information it provides to inform Government priorities, policies and investment decisions – including through Budget and Cabinet processes.” Connection to Canberra, a sense of wellbeing and belonging, and support for multiculturalism are some of the key indicators of wellbeing set out in this framework.
This government’s multicultural policy is largely focused on sharing culture, but we cannot share our cultures if we do not retain them. Greater support for community language schools would be genuine investment in an education and community service that is critical for cultural retention and connection within Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities. It would also assist Canberra to move from ‘established’ to ‘advanced’ in the Welcoming City accreditation, as committed to by the government.
We urge this government to prove its commitment to a truly culturally and linguistically diverse society city where everyone belongs and thrives by implementing the recommendations of the 2020 review and providing adequate funding and support to the ACT Community Language Schools in the 2022-2023 budget.