NSW Labor will invest an additional $17.9 million into the NSW Community Languages Schools Program to make learning a language more affordable and accessible. 
 

This commitment is the biggest increase in funding for community languages in more than a decade. 
 

A key feature is a $100 rebate for parents whose children pass their end-of-year exams and achieve an 85 per cent attendance record throughout the year. 
 

The rebate will reduce the overall costs parents pay for language classes and help foster attendance. 
 

Other features of Labor’s policy include: 

• Increasing the per capita grant to $200 per eligible student – the first significant increase in more than a decade 
• Improving security of tenure for language schools with three-year agreements for the use of a host government school; 

• Expanding the use of digital and online lessons to give regional and rural students the opportunity to participate in language classes if none operate near them; and 
• Establishing a professional pathway for the 3,000 community language teachers to become qualified to teach in NSW public schools. 

There are 35,000 students studying 60 different languages in more than 250 community language schools across NSW. 
 

The policy is part of NSW Labor’s Fresh Start Plan to support diverse communities and promote a vibrant multicultural society in NSW. 
 

Quotes attributable to Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader: 
 

“NSW Labor wants to thank the thousands of parents who make the effort to get their kids into a community language class on a Saturday or Sunday. 
 

“Everyone in NSW benefits from improved language diversity and proficiency as it gives us an edge in our trading relationships with other countries. 
 

“Speaking more than one language is an increasingly valuable skill in a globalised world. 
 

“Labor’s policy will make it easier and more affordable for every child who wants to learn a language to do so.” 
 

Quotes attributable to Prue Car, NSW Shadow Minister for Education: 
 

“The growth of community language schools has been hampered by the level of funding provided by the Liberals and Nationals. 
 

“It has forced schools to put more students into existing classes, rather than expanding the number of classes offered. 
 

“By raising the per capita grant per student, schools will be able to deliver a better quality of tuition by having smaller class sizes and better-qualified teachers.” 
 

Quotes attributable to Steve Kamper, NSW Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism: 
 

“Speaking more than one language is an increasingly valuable skill in a globalised world. 
 

“Labor’s policy will make it easier and more affordable for every child who wants to learn a language to do so.” 

CHRIS MINNS MP 

NSW LABOR LEADER 

PRUE CAR MP 

NSW DEPUTY LABOR LEADER 

NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION 
 STEVE KAMPER MP
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR MULTICULTURALISM