<div dir="ltr"><h1 class="" href="http://mashable.com/2015/11/30/aboriginal-languages-australia/">Indigenous languages to be taught as a year 12 school subject in Australia</h1>
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</div><img alt="Sydneyflag" class="" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDE1LzEyLzAxLzU5L3N5ZG5leWZsYWcuZDdhN2YuanBnCnAJdGh1bWIJOTUweDUzNCMKZQlqcGc/2cfd1612/cb8/sydneyflag.jpg">
</div>An Aboriginal flag in front of Sydney Tower.<div class="">Image: AAP / Richard Ashen</div>
<div class=""><a class="" href="http://mashable.com/people/jacobgillard/"><img alt="Headshot" class="" src="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDE1LzA5LzIyLzc0L2hlYWRzaG90LmZmN2RmLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTkweDkwIwplCWpwZw/af67e17b/555/headshot.jpg"><div class=""><span class="">By Jacob Gillard</span>18 hours ago</div></a></div>
<p>Providing an important link to the country's heritage, indigenous
Australian languages will become a subject for the first time for year
12 students in New South Wales taking their final exams. The new policy
will begin in 2016.</p>
<p>NSW Education Minister, Adrian Piccoli, announced the subject's
introduction on Monday. Speaking at a school in the state's west,
Piccoli said the course will help "maintain this critical part of
Aboriginal cultures."</p>
<div class=""><p>See also: <a href="http://mashable.com/2015/11/30/sydney-refugee-hackathon/">Techfugees hackathon brings Sydney startups and refugees together</a></p><div style="background-color:rgb(247,247,247);width:100%" id="teadsSlot"><div id="tt-wrapper4bd338d" class="" style="margin:0px 20px 20px;padding:0px 0px 40px;text-align:center;display:block;font-family:LatoRegular,sans-serif;color:rgb(153,153,153);font-size:1.1rem;font-weight:bold;height:0px;min-width:230px;max-width:100%;overflow:hidden"> <div id="tt-mention4bd338d" class="" style="margin-bottom:10px;padding:10px 0px 10px 5px;text-align:left">ADVERTISEMENT</div><div id="tt-container4bd338d" class="" style=";"> </div></div></div></div>
<p>"The new course enables students to continue their studies into Years
11 and 12 and I look forward to other schools joining them," he said.</p>
<p>The course does not count towards a student's ATAR, however — a final
academic grading that determines whether students can attend university
and which courses they can take.</p>
<p>The new course comes a decade after an indigenous language policy was
introduced into the state's education system. Students in NSW have been
able to study Aboriginal languages from kindergarten to year 10 <a href="https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/policies/students/access_equity/aborig_edu/PD20080385.shtml" target="_blank">since 2005</a>.</p>
<p>Bilingual education in Australia is hotly debated. In 2009, the
Northern Territory government — a region of Australia with a high
indigenous population — drew the ire of many Aboriginal educators after
introducing a policy where the first four hours of school had to be
taught in English. The policy was relaxed in 2012 after claims it was
"absurd," according to the <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/07/19/3548905.htm" target="_blank">ABC</a>.</p>
<p>A former Federal parliament committee <a href="http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=atsia/languages2/media.htm" target="_blank">reported in 2012</a>
that research pointed to a number of benefits of incorporating
indigenous bilingual education, including improved attendance rates as
well as increased self esteem and cultural understanding.</p>
<p>NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Leslie Williams, supported the
move and said schools are a crucial part of helping Aboriginal students
understand their own language and culture.</p>
<p>"The partnership between the school and their local Aboriginal
community will enable knowledge holders to provide expertise and
guidance to classroom teachers," Williams said.</p>
<p>"For non-Aboriginal young people it will provide them with a deeper understanding of the world's oldest living culture."</p>
<p><em>Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.</em></p><p><em><a href="http://mashable.com/2015/11/30/aboriginal-languages-australia/#2sSpsXvD0mqs">http://mashable.com/2015/11/30/aboriginal-languages-australia/#2sSpsXvD0mqs</a><br></em></p>
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