§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on provision of teaching of English as a foreign language in primary schools and post-primary schools in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. HanleyThere is no provision for teaching English as a foreign language in either primary or post-primary schools in Northern Ireland.
In the case of pupils whose mother tongue is not English and who have little command of English, schools are often able to make additional remedial provision from within their existing resources to meet their needs. Where needs are so significant that they cannot be met from within the school's existing resources, education and library boards can provide extra help, either in terms of additional tuition, for example through their peripatetic remedial service, or by the provision of additional resources.