Language staff are to lose Dudley school jobs in cutbacks
Around 25 language teachers are to lose their jobs in Dudley schools because of budget cuts.
The staff, who teach around 500 youngsters from ethnic minority backgrounds, have been told their contracts will be cancelled at the end of the year.
The teachers, who all work on a part-time supply basis, will now discuss their next move in a meeting at Lye Central Mosque tomorrow.
Sameen Irfn, who has taught Urdu at Wollescote Primary School in Stourbridge for the last seven years, said the news came like a bolt from the blue when the teachers were informed about the decision this week.
"We didn't have any clue, it's been a big shock, many of our pupils have been getting excellent GCSE grades," she said.
Dudley Council said that for a number of years the authority had provided funding to deliver out-of-hours language classes to enable children from minority communities to be taught their mother tongue.
Councillor Tim Crumpton said: "We have fully considered and researched any other option but, unfortunately, have had to take this particular course of action."
