[EDLING:389] English teaching divides Swiss parliament

[Francis Hult]

Swiss Info

 

English teaching divides Swiss parliament

 

The two chambers of the federal parliament are at odds over whether English should be made the first foreign language taught at schools.

The country's cantons traditionally have far-reaching autonomy over language and education, which has led to some choosing English over one of Switzerland's national languages.

 

The Senate on Tuesday decided against a clause in a new language law forcing schools to teach a second national language - German, French, Italian, Romansh - before English.

 

This goes against the House of Representatives, which last June gave national languages priority. The proposal will now go back to the house to be debated at a later stage.

 

A clear majority in the Senate said setting a mandatory nationwide priority went against the constitution and was irresponsible.

 

Full story:

http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/front/detail/English_teaching_divides_Swiss_parliament.html?siteSect=105&sid=8250560&cKey=1190732502000&ty=st

 
--
Francis M. Hult, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies
University of Texas at San Antonio
 
Web: http://faculty.coehd.utsa.edu/fhult/
 
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