UK faces a language crisis

English not first language for many

LONDON: British schools are facing an ‘English language’ crisis as it was revealed that children studying English as their first language are a minority now.

Official figures revealed that this holds true for over 1,300 schools across the country. It was found that in 112 of the 3,343 secondary schools, children without English as the first language make up 51 to 70% of all pupils.

The figures from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, show the impact of high levels of immigration on the education system of the country, the Daily Telegraph reported.

The figures show that in more than one in 20 schools in Britain, children with English as their first language were a minority.

This disclosure warns that the rising number of foreign students without a decent grasp of English was putting intense pressure on teachers and undermining standards of education in the country.

Philip Parkin, general secretary of the Professional Association of Teachers, said, “Rising levels of immigration and the lack of multi-lingual teaching staff are providing serious challenges for schools trying to maintain standards.’’

David Davis, the Conservative shadow home secretary, accused the Government of failing to meet the costs of its immigration policy.

"We have been warning the Government for years now of the consequences for schools of the very high rate of immigration. This shows how many schools in the country will face real difficulties,’’ he said.