The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
TEACHING OF JÈRRIAIS: GRANT OF FUNDS FROM THE GENERAL RESERVE _______________
Lodged au Greffe on 4th July 2000 by the Education Committee
______________________________
STATES OF JERSEY
STATES GREFFE
180 2 0 0 0 P . 1 2 3
Price code: B
PROPOSITION
THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion -
to refer to their Act, dated 6th October 1998 and, in accordance with Article 18(4) of the Public Finances (Administration) (Jersey) Law 1967, as amended, to require the Finance and Economics Committee to grant a credit from the general reserve of £108,000 per annum for each of the next five years to the Don Balleine Trust, to enable the teaching of Jèrriais to continue for children aged 7-11 and to enable the programme to be extended to those children aged 11 and above who wish to continue learning Jèrriais.
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Note: T he Finance and Economics Committee fully recognises the considerable cultural and heritage benefits to the Island
of teaching Jèrriais and is fully supportive of the continuation of the existing programme.
H o w e v er, it notes that the Education Committee does not regard the teaching of Jèrriais as being of sufficient
educational benefit to be funded from that Committee's considerable cash limit, which in 2000 amounts to £63.9 million, representing 21 per cent of the total States budgeted revenue expenditure for 2000.
T h e C o mmittee is disappointed that the Education Committee is again using the politically sensitive nature of an
initiative to circumvent the accepted revenue allocation process and to further increase the financial resources available to it.
Fu rth e r more, the Committee is somewhat surprised that the Education Committee did not include these amounts in
its request for further additional cash limit funding of £1.3 million in 2001,£3.77 million in 2002 and£5.88 million in 2003.
T h e F inance and Economics Committee finds itself in the position of once more having to remind other
Committees that the purpose of the general reserve is to fund contingencies arising which could not reasonably have been foreseen at the time of the submission of cash limit requests.
T h is re q uest for funding quite clearly does not meet this criterion, as the Education Committee was fully aware of
the funding needs at the time of agreeing its cash limits requests both this and last year.
It is to ta lly inappropriate to fund ongoing expenditure from the general reserve, and therefore given that it is now
proposed that the programme be put on a more permanent basis, it should be funded from within cash limits.
A c c o r d ingly, whilst fully supporting the extension of the existing programme, the Committee does not agree that
the States should direct it to fund the programme from the general reserve, but that the States should direct the Education Committee to fund the continuation of the teaching of Jèrriais from within the cash limit negotiated with the Finance and Economics Committee.
Report
" 1 am always sorry when any language is lost. because languages are the pedigree of nations "
Samuel Johnson 1773 Preamble
In Report and Proposition P.131/1998, the States were asked to grant a credit from the general reserve to fund a two-year programme to develop and test programmes of study for the teaching of Jèrriais to children aged 7 to 11. On 6th October 1998, the States voted overwhelmingly to support the proposition, and funding of £121,000 was granted to the Don Balleine Trust.
A condition of the funding was a requirement for the Education Committee to undertake a full evaluation of the programme prior to seeking approval for the extension of the programme beyond the second year.
The successful reintroduction of the Manx language in the Isle of Man, identified the need for the development of high quality teaching materials and the co-ordination of the programme by a fluent speaker. The funding was to enable a co- ordinator to be appointed to develop and test the materials and monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching provided by others. The co-ordinator would work with a group of schools in piloting and refining the programmes of study, which would, in the first instance, be offered to pupils between the ages of 7 and 11. To fulfil this commitment, the co-ordinator would be full-time and involved in the project for a minimum period of two years.
The Report and Proposition stated that the initial programme could constitute the starting point for a learning programme which could develop significantly. Measures for future consideration were listed as -
th e d ev e lopment of interactive materials, using information technology; se c o n d a ry provision to build on experience gained in primary schools; th e in tr o duction of certificated courses;
re n e w e d interest and involvement in adult education.
Rationale for the teaching of Jèrriais
Jèrriais is unique to Jersey and is a central, precious aspect of our cultural heritage.
There are positive benefits in terms of social and cultural integration of children from different backgrounds learning together.
There are cross-curricular links with literacy, music, local history and geography. There are long-term benefits for future access to research materials in Jersey.
Jèrriais has the potential for increasing interest in tourism in the Island. Visitors are always fascinated by the fact that this small Island has a rich and separate history from both England and France, with a unique language, which is a clear manifestation of its identity.
The learning of Jèrriais for our children has already begun to promote cultural identity. Even a few words of Jèrriais, allied to an interest in place names and signs in use throughout the Island, has engendered a feeling of belonging to, and having pride in, our heritage.
Evaluation of the programme to date
A full time Co-ordinator began in post in January 1999.
High quality learning materials have been developed and tested.
In September 1999, 150 children aged 8 to 11 began Jèrriais lessons either before or after school or at lunchtimes in 19 primary schools and one secondary school. Further children have joined since the start of the programme, bringing the current total to 170.
A recent postal survey to the parents indicated overwhelming support for the lessons to continue and to be extended to other age groups. 44 of the current children will be entering secondary school in September and have indicated a desire to continue with lessons. It is not possible to meet all of the demands because of the lack of Jèrriais teachers. There are four teachers and nine support assistants currently involved in the programme.
The demands on the current curriculum time in primary schools mean that it is not possible to teach Jèrriais as part of the normal timetable.
The programme has been evaluated in three schools as part of the VSSE (Validated School Self Evaluation) programme and has been judged to be making a good contribution to extra curricular activities.
Financial and manpower implications
Pe r annum
One full-time Jersey Language Teaching Officer £38,000 Two full-time equivalent teachers £65,000 Teaching materials/expenses £5,000 Total £108,000
Endorsement
This initiative has the full support of the various groups who are involved in the presentation of the language, including the Education Committee, Don Balleine, l'Assembliée d'Jèrriais, La Société Jersiaise, l'Association Jersey - Coutançais and Le Congrès des Parlers Normands Jèrriais.