Bill requiring 2nd language at schools
WELLINGTON: National’s education spokeswoman hopes to get other parties to back her plan to make learning a second language compulsory in primary and intermediate schools.
Nikki Kaye’s Bill, which has been drawn from the parliamentary ballot, would require schools to offer at least one other language to children under 13, and it would require schools to choose from 10 priority languages, including Maori, Mandarin and sign language.
Ms Kaye said there were huge cognitive benefits for young children learning a second language, and she would seek meetings with the other parties to gain their support.
‘‘I am very optimistic but, look, I need to give political parties the space to be able to work this through with their caucuses.’’
Ms Kaye said speaking more than one language had enormous benefits.
‘‘What we know is the younger that children can have access to languages, the easier it is, but also the cognitive benefits as well from learning a second language younger — and that provides the foundation, I think, to go on at secondary school to learn.’’
Being able to speak a second language could allow children to be able to speak with their grandparents or young business leaders to be able to connect to markets such as China and India, Ms Kaye said.