Foreign Languages

HC Deb 18 February 1991 vol 186 cc11-2

11. Mr. Grist

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of school leavers in Wales in 1990 held a pass at A to C level in a foreign language at (a) GCSE and (b) advanced level.

Sir Wyn Roberts

In 1988–89, 21.3 per cent. of school leavers in Wales held a GCSE grade A to C in a foreign language. The corresponding figure for advanced level grades A to E was 3.3 per cent. Information for 1989–90 is not yet available.

Mr. Grist

Does my hon. Friend agree that, compared with the achievements of our European neighbours, those figures are worrying? Does he further agree that, unfortunately, we are short of sufficient foreign language teachers and that the teaching of foreign languages should be started in primary schools?

Sir Wyn Roberts

I, too, would like to see foreign langage teaching started at the primary level because we have had considerable success in teaching Welsh at primary level. There is, indeed, a shortage of foreign langage teachers, but we are combating that by providing bursaries of £1,500 per annum for trainee teachers taking the postgraduate certificate of education and other courses. We, too, would like to see a great improvement in the learning and teaching of foreign languages in Wales.

Mr. Morgan

Could the Minister institute a study into the success rates of students taking foreign languages at GCSE and A-level, linking that with the constant drip, drip, drip of rainwater passing through leaking school roofs into buckets in the corners? In the county of South Glamorgan, part of which I have the honour to represent, the estimated cost of putting right the backlog of repairs to school buildings has now risen to £32 million, but the annual budget for repairing those roofs is only £9 million. How long is it——

Mr. Speaker

This is a bit wide of languages.

Mr. Morgan

How long will it be before that backlog is put right, and students of foreign languages at GCSE and A-level are given a fair chance of success?

Sir Wyn Roberts

I am well aware of the condition of our school buildings. Whenever I see a particularly rotten building and look into its date of construction, I usually find that it was constructed during a Labour Government's period in office.