<div dir="ltr"><h2>Education Ministry looks to make foreign languages compulsory up to grade 9</h2>
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<p>Saturday, October 01, 2016 | 3:59 PM </p>
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Education Minister Ruel Reid<br>
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<p> </p><p>
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The Ministry of Education, Youth and
Information is looking to make foreign languages compulsory for students
from grades one to nine.</p><p>
Portfolio Minister Ruel Reid said the move forms part of the Ministry’s foreign language policy in schools.</p><p>
“I have already signalled to my ministry to come up with a strategy of
how we are going to ensure that foreign languages are part of our
primary curriculum,” he pointed out.</p><p>
Senator Reid was addressing the annual general meeting of the National
Association of Spanish Teachers and the Jamaica Association of French
Teachers at the Caenwood Centre in Kingston on Friday.</p><p>
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<p> He noted that the plan is for students “to do a menu of foreign languages” up to third form.</p><p>
He said the hope is that teachers will employ ingenious ways to impart
the languages in order to capture students’ interest so that they will
be encouraged to specialise after grade nine.</p><p>
Senator Reid pointed out that having a second language is an asset in
the global labour market, adding that a multi-lingual labour force will
better position the country for new areas of investments and trade.</p><p>
Senator Reid thanked the various embassies such as France, Spain, Chile,
Cuba, Venezuela, and Brazil, and organisations such as the
Spanish-Jamaica Foundation and the Organization of American States
(OAS), for their support to the country in the teaching and learning of
various languages over the years.
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