There are proposals to axe qualifications for various foreign (mother tongue) languages – including Gujarati - from 2016 - 17.  I pay tribute to Gujarat Samachar in general and in particular to Kamal Rao for their initiative in bringing together a large number of community/supplementary schools at Sangat Centre, Harrow on 4th July to see how we can collectively fight to save Gujarati qualifications.

 

Kamal Bhai’s introduction as the chairman, his own views plus interventions during the course of meeting were thoughtful and productive. I was also impressed with the breadth of participating organisations represented from places like Tower Hamlets, Brent, Harrow, Watford, Leicester etc.  

 

There is a proposal to introduce new GCSE and A level specifications for languages from 2016 (for French, German and Spanish – 2017 for other languages). As a result Exam Boards have announced their proposals to curtail qualifications in a range of small-entry languages. This includes for A level: Bengali, Modern Hebrew, Panjabi and Polish (AQA); Dutch, Gujarati, Persian, Portuguese, Turkish (OCR); Arabic, Modern Greek, Japanese and Urdu (Edexcel) and for GCSE: Dutch, Gujarati, Persian, Portuguese, Turkish (OCR) will not be redeveloped. Key brief reasons for the proposals being 1) Small number of entries and therefore the issues of cost effectiveness. 2) More rigorous conditions for the new A level specifications. 3) Difficulties in sourcing examiners and experts. 

 

The gathering at Sangat Centre examined the implications of these ill thought-out proposals. Kamal Bhai was right in passionately opposing the proposals to scrap the qualifications. He was also right in asserting that teaching of Gujarati is much more than simple ability to speak and write. It is about our 5,000 years of culture and heritage. Any qualification like GCSE or A level is not a gift to us – it is our right. We should not be frightened by the proposal – we should fight it. This view was echoed by the attendees and found full support.  Various organisations have already started their campaign to save the qualifications through the means like petitions and letters to OCR etc. However, the gathering agreed that there was need for a national campaign to voice our opposition but also proactively offer our help to the relevant authorities to salvage the situation.

 

It is encouraging that there is cross party support to retain these qualifications. It was good to see Bob Blackman MP attending the meeting to declare his support. Prior to the General Election all leading politicians had pledged their support. In April Nicky Morgan MP, Education Secretary, made a commitment that the next Conservative Government will guarantee the future of GCSEs and A-levels in subjects like Polish and Gujarati. Tristram Hunt MP, Shadow Education Minister too declared that Labour was clear from day one on this matter and pledged that Labour will save important language qualifications like Gujarati and asked Nicky Morgan, Secretary of State for Education to take urgent action before Parliament was dissolved so that these subjects are not lost from our education system. There was a suggestion, at the meeting, of an early day motion in the parliament.

Language is a gateway to culture and in this day and age of global economy foreign language is a huge resource for advancement. I attended recently the annual prize giving event of the Tamil School of Hendon who too are concerned about the future of Tamil qualifications. I’m with all those organisations fighting on this issue. I reaffirm my support announced at the meeting for a national campaign and will be happy to lead and assist to fight with one voice to stop these ill- conceived proposals.

 

Navin Shah AM

Article for 17 July 2015 - AV Column