Row over handout to teach Bengali kids Bengla

Aug 31 2008 by Phil Doherty, Sunday Sun

A WAR of words has broken out after a North council gave more than £5000 to a scheme that helps Bengali children speak their family’s language.

Critics say the cash award goes against Government advice that ethnic groups be taught English to help them integrate into local communities and improve their jobs prospects.

In all, £5261 has been given to a group called Mosum in Middlesbrough by the local council to “develop educational courses which teach Bengla, the official India Bengali language, to children of the Bengali and local community.”

Middlesbrough Independent councillor Joan McTigue said: “If they want to learn their language they should do it at home. Many Asian families do that and this is to be encouraged as it will make their children bilingual. But the taxpayer should not be paying for this.

“It would be far better if this money had been spent on English classes for these children.” Government guidelines were brought in last year after a report by the Commission on Integration and Cohesion said giving cash to single ethnic groups can do more harm than good.

It also wanted a cutback on translation services to encourage ethnic groups to learn English.

Bert Ward, a retired lecturer and former political adviser to Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon said: “Middlesbrough council is doing this at a time their Government is promoting Britishness and the English language. There is nothing wrong with being bilingual but they should learn that in their own home.

“It would be far better for these children to learn English because if they can’t it’s going to affect how well they can function in society and their career prospects.”

Bob Kerr, deputy mayor of Middlesbrough, said: “Under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, all children have the right to practise their own language, religion and culture.

“As an authority it is our duty to ensure the convention is upheld. Indeed, in the past we have given support to a group of Anglo-Italian origin.

“We will consider all requests put forward by other groups, but this is the only recent application we have received for funding under this scheme.

“Middlesbrough is a relatively young town with a largely immigrant population and we will continue to celebrate and foster that diversity.”