BBC: Languages 'should be compulsory'

[Red5]

Heads of languages at dozens of top universities are calling on the government to reverse a decision allowing pupils to drop language study.

University College London is even considering making it compulsory for new entrants to have a language GCSE.

The decision to make languages optional was made two years ago but the government has asked Lord Dearing to look at the decline in the subject.

GCSE results this year showed a drop in entries for modern languages.


See: BBC NEWS | Education | Languages 'should be compulsory'

[BobK]

The decision to make language-learning optional after Key Stage 3 (= about 14 years old) was lamentable - short-sighted, ill-conceived, penny-pinching (all those hyphenated words ). More power to UCL. ['More power to...' - expression of support and encouragement].

b