Photo: Jo Haylen with local School Captains Zoe (Tempe High), Lachlan (Marrickville High), Melisa (Marrickville High) and William (Tempe High).

Local community language schools are set to receive an historic funding boost of more than $75 per student to $200 per student under a Labor Government.

Clr Haylen said the funding boost would not only help attract and retain specialist teachers in the Inner West, but also continue educating the many local students who attend these schools.

“The Inner West is an incredibly vibrant and culturally diverse community, which is why the Community Language School program is so strong in our area,” Clr Haylen said.

“I love that when I walk down Marrickville Road I can hear Greek, Arabic and Vietnamese languages, to name a few.

“More than 20 local community language schools, teaching more than 10 languages will benefit from this announcement if Labor is elected.

“I’m proud to support Labor’s commitment, which recognises the value of a multilingual, multicultural community,” Clr Haylen said.

Labor’s funding commitment of $2.5 million represents a 62 per cent increase in funding and would bring the total investment to $6.5 million a year.

This would leave NSW Community Language Schools with the largest funding package of any state in Australia.

Community Language Schools offer classes in 56 different community languages and are open to any school-aged student from a government, Catholic or independent school. The classes are held outside normal school hours and help students learn and use their community language or learn a new language.

This funding boost will provide more than 30,000 students, as well as teachers and volunteers who attend and operate the schools, with more support and resources.

List of Community Language Schools in Summer Hill