[lg policy] Irish Business and Employers Confederation calls for integrated language education policy

[Harold Schiffman]

IBEC calls for integrated language education policy

Monday, September 26, 2011 - 08:28 AM

The Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) has said that
Irish workers need to further develop foreign language skills if the
country to avoid missing out on foreign direct investment. IBEC is
calling on the Department of Education to introduce a national policy
to provide an integrated and coherent approach to language learning.

It says without action, Ireland will be faced with a competitive
disadvantage when it comes to attracting investment. Over 75% of the
world's population don't speak English and only 9% speak it as their
first language, the organisation has pointed out.

IBEC Head of Education Policy Tony Donohue said that despite a series
of initiatives at primary and secondary level it remains very
difficult to encourage young people to take up new languages. IBEC is
calling on Education Minister Ruairí Quinn to look at existing
language policy, to work towards intergrated language education across
the curriculum, and to come up with a different approach to teaching
languages.

Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/business/ibec-calls-for-integrated-language-education-policy-522030.html#ixzz1ZA7PrdmU


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