§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a progress report on his drive to improve the teaching of foreign languages announced on 16 June 1986.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThe Government attach great importance to improving the nation's skills in modern foreign languages. That is reflected in our policy on modern foreign languages in the school curriculum was set out in the January 1988 policy statement "Modern Languages in the School Curriculum", and in the inclusion 539W among the national curriculum foundation subjects of a modern foreign language to be studied by all pupils between the ages of 11 and 16.
From this autumn, pupils will have to study a modern foreign language for a reasonable time in the first three years of secondary schooling. This requirement will be extended to the last two years of compulsory schooling later. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I published on 19 May the Education (National Curriculum) (Modern Foreign Languages) Order 1989 under section 3(2)(b) of the Education Reform Act 1988, specifying those languages eligible to be taught as the national curriculum foundation subject.
Within this framework, and to implement the 1988 policy statement, I am encouraging schools to offer a greater diversity of languages and I am providing education support grants for pilot projects in some local education authorities in England to promote the preparation and implementation of plans for language diversification. Schools will be free to offer a second foreign language during the 11 to 16 phase or in the sixth form in addition to meeting the national curriculum
First degree students in Great Britain Thousands Academic year beginning in 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 Full-time University 241.2 247.8 250.2 246.9 240.8 237.8 238.3 241.1 245.6 Polytechnics and colleges 127.5 130.8 147.2 161.0 171.3 178.0 181.0 186.9 195.3 Full-time equivalent of part-time1 Open University 21.4 21.0 22.1 23.2 23.4 23.6 23.2 23.8 25.0 Other universities 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.8 Polytechnics and colleges 5.8 5.9 6.3 6.6 7.0 7.3 7.8 8.3 8.8 1 For consistency between sectors all part-time students have been counted as 0.35 FTE.