Indigenous language classes for school, kinder kids
A NEW course to train indigenous people to teach their language to school and kinder kids has been developed as more students take up Aboriginal languages.
Education
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A NEW course to train indigenous people to teach their language to school and kinder kids has been developed as more students take up Aboriginal languages.
A Victorian Government program will also be rolled out to up to 120 kindergartens from next year, teaching languages, including Aboriginal languages, to children as young as four.
Ten primary and secondary schools — most in regional Victoria — currently teach an indigenous language, with more schools expressing interest for the 2019 school year.
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About 40 indigenous community members have expressed interest in taking up the new course, the Certificate III in Learning an Endangered Aboriginal Language, which will start at the end of the month.
A Certificate IV in Teaching an Endangered Aboriginal Language will also be rolled out.
A Department of Education spokeswoman said the courses were designed for Aboriginal people who “want to learn their language so they can teach others in their community and in early childhood settings and schools”.
It has not been confirmed how many more schools will teach an indigenous language next year, with a requirement for the local indigenous community to first agree before schools can adopt lessons.
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A total 1534 Victorian students studied an Aboriginal Language across the 10 schools last year, according to the Department of Education’s latest available data.
It comes as the Victorian Government works to increase the number of indigenous language programs in kinders and schools, as part of the 10-year Marrung Aboriginal Education Plan.
“Strengthening local Aboriginal language teaching in schools is important to increasing students’ understanding and respect for Aboriginal culture and history,” a DET spokeswoman said.
Education Minister James Merlino said the new course would “would play a significant role in building a workforce that schools can employ to deliver Aboriginal languages”.
“We have seen an increased interest from students, parents and schools wanting to learn the languages of our First Peoples,” he said.
“This is a great way to celebrate Victoria’s rich Aboriginal history and culture.”
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