Why Petro criticized English teaching and proposed to learn indigenous languages

In his most recent speech, President Gustavo Petro referred to the project with which he seeks to establish English as Second official and mandatory language in public schools in the country. The president criticized his development, highlighting that other languages should be given priority.

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To enter into context, recently, the National Registry approved an initiative baptized as ‘Bilingual Colombia Popular Consultation of Citizen Origin’, which seeks to promote the teaching of English officially. The proposal to meet this objective It will be carried out through the collection of signatures.

Given that scenario, the head of state said that, although this language has a relevant role, it should be recognized that in Colombia There are indigenous languages that deserve to have that same level of importance For the country’s education system.

“Yes, of course, English is important, but not by obligation as the second official language of schools, by God. The Constitution orders an official language, and is Spanish”he said.

President Petro also emphasized that the signature collection project that is being promoted hidden “privatize education.” “It is a business, that some groups wanted in Congress, of the opposition, that public education is privatized,” Indian.

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In the same way, he stressed that, from its perspective, establish English as an official league in the classrooms of public institutions It could deepen social gaps.

“I want students to study English, German, French, Chinese and the greatest amount of Colombia’s languages, which are not those of the natives, and there is one of the blacks. And it does not come out. That if it is not official,” mentioned.

In that order of ideas, he clarified that Recognize the importance of this language in education. “This topic must be studied, because there must be education in English, Chinese and others. But not because of putting that as a second language, because Colombia has a language first,” sentenced.

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