Strong language condemns cuts to language education

Delegates to the NT Indigenous Constitutional Convention in Batchelor, 
NT (November 30 to December 4) reacted angrily to the NT Government's 
announcement that bilingual education would be phased out and replaced with 
just English language tuition.

Convention Chairman, Mr Galarrwuy Yunupingu, regarded this action as an 
attack on the right of Aboriginal people to speak their own language.

"Schools are supposed to be teaching English to our children now, and by 
taking away bilingual education programs to fund English language teaching, 
the Government is taking away with one hand and giving nothing at all with 
the other", he said. "They are trying to cut out our tongues", Mr Yunupingu 
stated.

Delegates to the Convention were angry that their views and dissatisfaction 
with the education system had been misused and distorted by the NT 
administration to justify the removal of bilingual education.

The Convention resolved to object in the strongest possible terms to the NT 
Government, the Commonwealth Government and international bodies which are 
responsible for human rights, emphasising the denial of education to NT 
Aboriginal people. 

Destruction of indigenous languages has been part and parcel of colonial 
policies for centuries. That such racist policies should be implemented at 
present is an indication of the mentality of Australian governments and 
their real attitude towards indigenous people as well as showing a complete 
lack of understanding of the fact that every living language is a world 
treasure and should be treated as such.