Martin Slams Closure Of Language Programme

The Fianna Fáil Leader has described as “extremely regressive and short-sighted” the decision to cut the Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative (MLPSI) in this week's budget.

Micheál Martin said the initiative had been in operation to "great effect" since 1998 after its launch by Deputy Martin when he was Minister for Education.

Deputy Martin said: “I am appalled by the decision to shut down this initiative. Thousands of children have benefited from this scheme over the years learning Spanish, which is spoken by half the world’s population, French, German and Italian. The initiative has been a fantastic way of developing language learning among young people."

The MLPSI was designed to introduce and support modern languages at primary level in Ireland, hoping to create a "positive attitude" towards language learning, to include a wide variety of schools and to facilitate and support a wide range of languages including Italian, Spanish, German and French.

A statement on the MPLSI website on Thursday suggest the body had only learnded of its closure during the announcement in the budget on Monday.

"We are unable to answer queries as they were still awaiting information from Schools Division Financial in the Department of Education and Skills," a spokesman said.

Mr Martin said there were approximately 250 teachers working across the country on the scheme who were given no warning the scheme would be being cut.

"I understand the co-ordinator of the scheme found out able the decision on the news," he said.

“The Government’s cut to this scheme is extremely regressive and short-sighted. It does not align with the country’s economic and educational agenda and should be reversed immediately. I introduced this scheme in 1999 and it has been recognised by the Council of Europe as being extremely forward looking," Minister Martin added.

(DW)