A-LEVEL TURKISH

Early day motion 782, tabled 12 February 1998 by Andrew Love (Labour/Co-operative). Signed by 27 members.

That this House notes that there are about 200,000 Turkish-speaking people living in the United Kingdom, 90 per cent of whom live in London, that there are presently 18 Turkish education and cultural schools in London, that the number of language schools and the number of students studying Turkish A level has been increasing over recent years, that it is essential to the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot communities that they are given the opportunity to study Turkish A level and that EDEXCEL is the only examining board currently offering Turkish A level; expresses concern at EDEXCEL's decision to withdraw A level Turkish in 1999; notes the detrimental effect that this will have on Turkish speaking communities; believes that this will inevitably reduce opportunities open to Turkish-speaking students, particularly those who depend on an A level Turkish qualification for a place in higher education; and calls upon the Government to explore positive solutions with EDEXCEL so that A level Turkish will continue to be available in the future.

Signatures by party: Labour 22, Labour/Co-operative 2, Liberal Democrat 2, UUP 1.