§ 7. Mr. Gristasked the Secretary of State for Wales what actions his Department will take in the light of Her Majesty's inspectors' education survey 11 on the teaching of modern languages in schools in Wales.
§ Mr. John Stradling ThomasThe consultative paper "Foreign Languages in the School Curriculum" aroused great interest and much discussion. The findings of the Wales survey will further inform efforts to formulate, for the first time, a national policy for foreign languages in schools.
§ Mr. GristIs my hon. Friend as alarmed as I am at the low standards that were revealed in this report on language teaching in Wales? Does he agree that it shows the disservice to the young people in Wales in economic as much as in cultural terms?
§ Mr. Stradling ThomasThere is room for some disquiet and for further efforts to improve the position. The report brings out clearly the importance of head teachers and of heads of departments in the matter.
§ Mr. D. E. ThomasWill the Minister draw to the attention of teachers in Wales the valuable work that can be achieved through language awareness courses and the need to extend language awareness across the curriculum, not just through teaching languages but in terms of subject areas?
§ Mr. Stradling ThomasThat is a helpful suggestion and I shall look into the matter.