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5 Jun, 2012

Spending Boost To Help Make More Australian Students “Asia Literate”

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Canberra, 4 June 2012 (Australian government media release) — More students will be encouraged to learn Asian languages and cultures with the Gillard Government providing another $87, 000 funding to support the work of the Asia Education Foundation (AEF), School Education Minister Peter Garrett said today.

The funding will go towards three projects which will help teachers and principals implement the new national curriculum’s focus on Asia, as well as linking schools with businesses here and internationally.

“Making an ‘Asia literate’ national curriculum a priority for learning in schools will help ensure every Australian child can reap the benefits of the Asian century,” Mr Garrett said.

“The national curriculum will help equip more students with the skills to communicate in an Asian language and to develop a sense of appreciation and understanding of Asian culture and society, which will help Australia continue to be good neighbour in our region.”

The funding for the AEF includes:

The Leading 21st Century Schools: Engage with Asia project which will receive $500,000 to support principals and school leaders develop strategies and resources to support the implementation of the Australian Curriculum and encourage students to engage with Asia.

The School to School Partnerships with Business project which will receive $170,000 to help link businesses, students, teachers and school communities within Australia and internationally, building upon the success of the Asia Literacy Ambassadors project.

The Asia Literacy Curriculum Forums project of $200,000, which will deliver forums for teachers and school leaders to share strategies, identify resources and develop best practice to support the implementation of the cross-curriculum priority of Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia in the Australian Curriculum.

Mr Garrett said the AEF will continue to support the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) with the implementation of the Australian Curriculum.

The AEF and Education Services Australia will also continue working together to provide access to digital learning resources to support the teaching and learning of Asian languages and culture in all Australian schools through the National Broadband Network.

The Australian Government has provided core funding to the AEF to support studies of Asia in Australian schools since 1992 For more information on the Asia Education Foundation visit: www.asiaeducation.edu.au.