Spanish will be compulsory in schools from September; foreign teachers could be hired

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Wednesday announced that the Spanish language will be a compulsory subject in public schools from September this year and the government could import teachers to ensure this happens.

Speaking at a press conference at his Georgetown office, the President said he is getting a full assessment of the number of Guyanese teachers who can teach the language, saying there may be capacity at the secondary level. However, his desire is for students from Grade Four or Five can start taking classes.

To meet the need for teachers, he said his government is in talks with “bilateral partners to loan human resources” in the period of transition until Guyanese teachers can fill the need across the country.

The President said he will move to have ministers of government take Spanish language classes and he hopes that the private sector would have their workers learn the language as well.

Further, the President said the government is considering developing an online platform so that any citizen who wishes to learn the language can do so.

The President expressed his own regret that he dropped the Spanish language as a subject in secondary school.

The President first announced his plan to make the Spanish language a compulsory subject in schools on June 22 while commissioning the  Good Hope Secondary School on the East Coast of Demerara.

He said then that learning a foreign language will help to make students more marketable when they enter the world of work.