CBE ponders Arabic language program
Posted May 20, 2011 12:07 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Around 250 people attended an open house Thursday, to learn more about the possibility of an Arabic language and culture program for elementary students.
The Calgary Board of Education is contemplating the idea, after launching other successful bilingual programs, like the ones in French, German, Mandarin and Spanish.
Kids would spend between 30 and 50 per cent in the day learning in Arabic, the rest would be in English.
The idea comes after the CBE announced it would axe its mandatory second language program for students.
CBE spokesperson Richard Peter tells 660News the program wouldn’t undermine French as one of Canada’s official languages, but would provide children with more options.
“This is not a decision about French or not, it’s a decision that give parents the opportunity to decide whether or not learning a second language is important for their students between grades 4 and 9,” he says.
Peter says parents have been very receptive to the idea of the Arabic language and culture program, which would be open to all students.
The CBE is in the midst of a $24-million shortfall, and Peter says the program wouldn’t necessarily cost more money.
“The creation of an alternative program doesn’t necessarily require incremental dollars,” he says. “In our system, when students make choices about where they’re going to go to school or the programs they’re going to be in, the budget dollars move with the students.”
If the program is approved, it would be rolled out in September 2012, starting with kindergarten and grade 1 students.
