To ask the Minister of Education, following the meeting of the British-Irish Council on minority and indigenous languages and the benefits of bilingualism, whether she will reinstate the Primary Modern Languages Scheme.

The decision to end the Primary Modern Languages Programme was based on the need to protect frontline services, and in particular the Aggregated Schools Budget, at a time when the education budget was facing significant pressures. It was simply not possible to maintain all services and programmes at existing levels, even though it was recognised that many of them were doing important work. Unfortunately as a consequence of the current constrained financial climate, I am unable to commit to the commissioning of a new Primary Modern Languages Scheme.

My Department, however, currently provides funding of around £480,000 per annum to support and enhance language teaching and learning opportunities in schools. This includes supporting the Confucius Institute Classroom Programme which provides Mandarin language lessons to around 20,000 pupils in primary and post-primary schools across Northern Ireland.

There is a particular emphasis on sustainable capacity building with funding being provided to the Northern Ireland Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research to promote languages to pupils and provide a range of professional development opportunities for teachers.

My Department also funds the British Council’s International Education Programme. This includes the Language Assistant Programme which facilitates the placement of graduates and undergraduates from overseas to work as Modern Language Assistants in schools here.