The Allan Labor Government is giving more Victorian students the opportunity to learn Hindi and Punjabi in VCE.

Minister for Education Ben Carroll today announced the language program is rolling out across schools in Melbourne’s western, northern and southeastern suburbs, backed by a $3.5 million investment from the Victorian Budget 2023/24.

The language programs will become available at Cranbourne North’s Alkira Secondary College, Wyndham Central Secondary College in Werribee and Mount Ridley P-12 College in Craigieburn.

The three leading schools will also be able to provide professional learning support and resources for teachers of Hindi or Punjabi at other schools.

More than 20 languages other than English are taught at government schools but there are limited options for students to learn Hindi or Punjabi – and these new programs will encourage more students to learn the two languages at a VCE level.

Studying languages other than English at school creates important links for multicultural Victorians with their heritage, while also improving literacy and communication skills.

Victoria has the highest Indian population in Australia – according to census data, there are more than 170,000 Victorians who speak Hindi and Punjabi in our state.