16 October 2014 at 9:00 am
$10 million fund to support teaching of Asian languages
The Government has set up the Asian Language Learning in Schools programme (ALLiS), a $10 million contestable fund to support teaching of Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and Korean schools.
The first call for registration of interest is open from 13 October to 20 November 2014. All state and state-integrated schools can apply for funding under ALLiS.
The Government wants to increase second language learning for all students. As well as learning our national and official languages (English, Te Reo Māori, and New Zealand Sign Language), and Pasifika languages, New Zealand needs to increase the number of students learning Asian languages to support our growing trade and international relationships with key Asian countries.
ALLiS will support schools by setting up new, or strengthening existing, Asian language programmes. ALLiS funding is available for up to 90 schools or clusters of schools, with particular emphasis on those that establish language learning pathways from primary through to secondary schools. The fund will encourage greater collaboration amongst schools in partnership with external Asian Language and Cultural organisations. Once the funding ends, programmes are expected to be self-sustaining.
China, Japan and Korea are amongst our top five trading partners but the number of students learning these languages in our schools is relatively low compared to other international languages. In 2013, only two secondary schools offered Korean, fewer than 40 schools offered Mandarin Chinese, while Japanese was offered by 160 secondary schools.
For more information on the ALLiS programme and the funding process visit the Ministry of Education website.
