Minister does not back bilingual school proposal

Education Minister Deputy Rob Ward said the idea could cost more than £2m

A Jersey minister has dismissed a proposal to create three English-French bilingual primary schools as being too complex and expensive.

The idea was put forward by Deputy Philip Bailhache in July as a means to reconnect the island to its bilingual past and help children.

But Education Minister Deputy Rob Ward said it could cost more than £2m to gradually introduce bilingual teaching over a seven-year period from 2025, as suggested by the proposal.

Deputy Bailhache's proposition is due to be debated by the States on 10 September.

Cultural benefits

Mr Bailhache said the change would provide economic, political and diplomatic gains.

He said there would also be cultural and heritage benefits due to the island's historical relationship with France.

"It is disappointing that few Jersey people can today speak French with any degree of fluency or understand the language of our nearest neighbour," he said in the proposal.

"Studies have also proved that the bilingual child makes more rapid progress in other subjects too."

Accessibility concerns

However, the education minister said the proposal was not funded.

"Nor does it recognise the sequencing, structure and breadth of our curriculum offer, or the workforce expertise and capacity required to deliver it," he added.

Mr Ward also said there were a limited number of native French speakers living in the island.

"This proposition by its design is neither inclusive nor accessible to all children and young people," he said.