The reason for an ethnic schools association dates back to 1978. Then The Survey of Ethnic Schools Needs Committee, established by the Education Department of South Australia, made a recommendation that the Department “may find it possible to recommend various kinds of support for ethnic schools and may suggest new patterns of relationships between Education systems and these schools”. The importance of ethnic schools keeping in touch and co-operating to ensure unity and consistency in dealing with the Education Department and other authorities was recognised, and it was decided to take advantage of such an offer. It was clear that an overall policy in respect to ethnic schooling would have to be developed.
Consequently, at a meeting of 23 ethnic schools’ representatives on 27 September, 1978, 5 individuals were elected to establish an association for ethnic schools. Their work came to fruition on 26 February, 1979 when The Ethnic Schools Association of SA Inc. became incorporated.
The principal belief of the Association is that all individuals have the right to maintain, develop, express and share their cultural heritages and all are equally entitled to participate in and benefit from the activities of ethnic schools.
Therefore, the objects of the Association are:
- to promote activities for the development and benefit of ethnic schools;
- to promote and co-ordinate the teaching of languages, history, geography and cultures of ethnic communities;
- to develop and promote communication and co-operation between ethnic schools authorities;
- to co-ordinate and promote inter-ethnic school social and cultural activities;
- to promote communication and co-operation with teachers, schools and institutions involved in languages teaching.
The Association is non-political, non-sectarian in nature and a non-profit organisation.
The general management and control of the Association is vested in the Association’s Executive Committee, which is elected by the Annual General Meeting. No more than two from any one language group can be on the Executive Committee at the same time, and each candidate for election to the committee must be a representative nominated by a financial member of the Association.
Being Me: Knowing You is designed for 11-15 year olds enrolled in community language schools. The aim of the curriculum package is to increase student awareness of everyday human rights and discrimination and its impact on people and communities, while learning to speak their community language.
