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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 November 2008
This short paper presents a background to the debate about bilingual education in England, an outline of the work of the Linguistic Minorities Project, and a selection of recent research and publications in this area.
In England the issue of bilingual education and mother-tongue teaching has emerged quite recently as the result of several developments. Firstly, it is seen to be a logical extension of “multi–cultural” education for all children, a movement that has developed among progressive educationalists to ensure that the education system reflects the multi–cultural nature of British society. Secondly, there has been increasing pressure from many minority groups for the introduction of lessons in the minority languages as part of the regular school system. Thirdly, the European Community Directive on the education of children of migrant workers has stimulated greater debate and activity in this field (Saifullah Khan 1980a).