'No funds' to make Chinese a Leaving subject [Independent.ie]
- Published: 10 June 2010
EDUCATION Minister Mary Coughlan has ruled out making Chinese a Leaving Cert subject due to budgetary pressures.
Despite research showing that one-third of employers want Irish students to learn Chinese, Ms Coughlan said the current "difficult budgetary context" does not allow for a new subject to be added.
Ms Coughlan said she was aware of comments made by Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin last month, when he said that Chinese should be an option on the Leaving Cert curriculum.
During a trade mission to Shanghai, Mr Martin emphasised the importance of the Chinese language in promoting trade and development between Ireland and China as part of the Asia Strategy.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
