MPs Warn of Alarming Decline in Asian Language Study in Australian Schools

The government is investigating how it can better build Australia’s ‘Asia capability’ through education.

A man writes Chinese caligraphy as part of the Chinese New Year events at the Bloomingdale’s flagship store on Lexington Avenue in New York City on Feb. 19. Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times

Fewer Australian students are studying Asian languages despite the country being in close proximity and having strong trade ties with Asia, a House Standing Committee on Education has been told.

A hearing for the inquiry into building Asia capability through the education system was held on Oct. 29, and Labor MP Tim Watts, the chair of the committee, noted some statistics about the decline in Asian languages studied in Australian schools.