The UK Secretary of State for Education Nicky Morgan has said that her Department is in discussion with awarding organisations and Ofqual to consider how best to enable as wide a range of languages as possible to be maintained at GCSE and A level, including modern Greek.
Ms Morgan was responding to the Conservative MP for Southgate Enfield David Burrowes who had pressed her on what steps her Department has taken to safeguard the future of modern languages at GCSE and A-level in Greek, and other community languages.
The issue arose after awarding bodies, including Edexcel which is responsible for the exams in modern Greek, warned that they would not be able to hold the examinations in the near future.
The Secretary of State said: “We are committed to securing the future of community language qualifications. I will make a further announcement in due course, explaining our proposed approach.” The Secretary of State also confirmed that she has held meetings with diplomats and officials who have made representations to the department.
Mr Burrowes expressed his satisfaction with the positive approach by the Education Secretary: “I am pleased that our Government is keeping its pre-election promise to secure the future of Greek and other languages GCSEs and A levels. The consultation is now up and running and the Minister made clear that the only question for EdExcel and OFQUAL is how the new Greek and other languages exams in 2018 will operate.”
A number of MPs and the organised diaspora have been actively engaged in a campaign to convince the Department for Education and the awarding organisations to maintain the Greek A-level exams, noting the cultural and historical significance of the language, as well as its particular role in safeguarding the community’s cohesion.
An online petition to save the ‘Greek A-levels’ has collected nearly 8,500 signatures.
Please click on Link below to sign petition
