Lyons school – where’s the plan?
ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey today described Lyons primary school as collateral damage and the Italian bilingual program as in limbo.
“Lyons School had the reputation of being a great little school” Dr Foskey said today.
“And its recent development as a bilingual Italian school was a great, parent-led innovation, which has never been strongly supported by the ACT Government.”
“Now it looks like that Italian program is being shuffled off to Yarralumla in the middle of the year, although no one is sure.”
“And the Lyons school is going to be refurbished as an early childhood centre some time soon, some how, for some kids.”
“The Towards 2020 process was flawed from its rushed inception in 2006, and the consequences are still being felt in school communities across Canberra.”
“The Greens support language teaching and would like to see more bilingual programs.”
“We also recognise the particular strengths of small schools with strong community support.”
“There is an election in October which may return a minority Government that will need to work with other political parties.”
“This means that people concerned about their local communities and primary schools, and those who see the value of effective language teaching, should get behind the Greens in the forthcoming election campaign” Dr Foskey said.
