Punjabi, Gujarati, Bengali continue to be taught in UK schools

LONDON: The UK government has said that Indian languages such as Punjabi, Urdu, Gujarati and Bengali that have been part its school curriculum will continue to be taught across the country.

The UK's Department for Education confirmed this week that the four languages will continue to be among the choice of subjects as part of the GCSE and A-Level syllabus, the equivalent of India's central board level school examinations.

"I represent one of the most multicultural constituencies in the country so I can attest that we are more part of a global village now than we have ever been," said MP Bob Blackman, who had campaigned for the languages to be retained.

"Our young people have far more opportunities available to them if they are able to be multilingual and that is why I have argued for language studies to be prioritised and protected in our educational system," Bob said.

The UK government worked with the UK's exam boards to secure agreement that the community language qualifications will continue to be provided under these subjects.

"I congratulate everyone who worked to keep this important issue on the agenda and I am pleased that in Nicky Morgan [UK education minister] we have an Education Secretary willing to listen to the needs of people on a practical level," Bob said.

Other languages that have been retained as part of the school syllabus include Arabic, Modern Greek, Japanese, Modern and Biblical Hebrew, Polish, Portuguese and Turkish.