§ 12. Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards teaching ethnic minority pupils in their mother tongue.
§ Mr. DunnMost teaching must inevitably be through the medium of Engish, but it is a view that for some children the use and study of their mother tongue can form a valuable part of a school's approach.
§ Mr. BrownI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply. Is he not concerned that the Inner London education authority spends far too much time and energy concentrating on mother tongue teaching rather than on teaching English?
§ Mr. DunnThe important principle that must be in every education authority's mind is that all children must leave school speaking and writing English fluently.
§ Mr. D. E. ThomasWill the Minister take this opportunity to express his support for the report published last week on community languages at 16-plus and make it clear that there is a role for a multilingual and multicultural approach in the British education system?
§ Mr. DunnI certainly undertake to read that report. I know the hon. Gentleman's interest in these matters.
§ Mr. TraceyMay I press my hon. Friend a little further? Does he agree that the style of positive discrimination often practised in ILEA schools is arguably racist in character and extremely harmful?
§ Mr. DunnI am willing to be pressed at any time on this matter. I do not believe that the state should wholly take over the role of minority communities in maintaining the mother tongue and culture. Many parents prefer their children to receive instruction in their religion, language and other aspects of culture within their own community, and that is their right.