All municipalities in Murcia region to have bilingual schools next year
Friday, October 17, 2014 @ 11:47 AM
THE MINISTRY of Education for the region of Murcia is preparing measures to expand teacher training in foreign languages. They expect that all municipalities in the region will have bilingual schools for the next academic year.
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Universities has set a goal for next year in that all families who wish their children to receive their education in Spanish and English can have this possibility. This was announced this week by Minister Pedro Antonio Sánchez in the Regional Assembly, where he appeared at his own request to report on the measures taken by the Department in promoting and enhancing language teaching in the Educational System of the Region of Murcia. He noted that the scheme has proved to be very popular with this year 44,000 students taking up the offer, 13,500 more than last year, to pursue their studies in Spanish and English.
“For this year we have increased by one-third the number of students receiving bilingual education, thereby responding to the needs of families and society because mastering a second language is more and more a necessity. Centres and teams of teachers are making a great effort, but we must all continue to work and offer the program in all municipalities, to have at least one bilingual school next year, "said the minister.
"Our ultimate goal with the initiative '+ Languages' is that 75 percent of elementary students are able to communicate in everyday situations, in everyday life in English, and the same percentage of high school students can use the English language for employment in professional or study situations. Proficiency in at least one foreign language is paramount and we are responding to this social need. Today, English is basic for exports, tourism and overall economic development, but also for research and innovation, culture and for social advancement, "concluded Pedro Antonio Sánchez.
Source... RTN