Latest news with #StrategicReview
Belfast Telegraph
6 days ago
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
Irish is on the rise with Spanish now most popular language taught in NI
And the latest language trends survey from The British Council shows that Irish continues to rise in popularity, with almost half (41.9%) of post-primary schools surveyed now offering pupils the chance to study the language. That figure has risen from 35% in 2023. The number of pupils taking Irish at GCSE level is also rising, showing an increase of 14.9% in 2024 compared to the previous year. But the number of primary schools in favour of making language learning mandatory has fallen to 74.3% (down from 84% in 2023). While three in four Year 9 pupils said they enjoy language classes, 89% see little relevance to their future careers and less than one third currently intend to study a language at GCSE. Irish is now the most common language taught at Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11), ahead of Spanish and French. For the first time the research also looked at AI technology in primary and post-primary classrooms and found that although some post-primary schools are using AI, uptake remains limited. A few schools (7.6%) use AI technology regularly and over two-fifths (41.9%) use it occasionally in a few lessons per month. However, nearly half (49.5%) do not use AI at all in language teaching. Meanwhile, in primary schools the majority (81.3%) of teachers have never used AI technology. The research was carried out by Dr Ian Collen and Dr Jayne Duff at Queen's University Belfast on behalf of British Council Northern Ireland. 'Artificial Intelligence is not just a buzzword; it's a transformative force that is shaping industries, societies, and the way we learn languages,' Dr Collen said. 'Our research suggests that AI is underdeveloped in local classrooms; yesterday's launch of the Strategic Review of the Northern Ireland Curriculum presents an opportunity to align language pedagogy with powerful knowledge from and through AI, enriching pupils' learning and fostering skills which are relevant today and in the future.' This year's report reveals that home, heritage and community languages are gaining significant visibility and support. There are now more than 21,350 newcomer pupils (learners whose home language is neither English nor Irish) enrolled in Northern Ireland schools, accounting for six per cent of the school population in 2024-25. More schools are offering support to pupils to take exams in their home languages, with 70.5% of the post-primary schools surveyed offering pupils the opportunity to sit exams in their home or community languages, either within the school or externally. The research also highlights the growing linguistic diversity in schools, with nearly 30 different ones spoken at home by pupils in post-primary education. These include Arabic, Lithuanian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Polish, Portuguese and Mandarin. Some schools report offering these heritage languages as part of enrichment or extra-curricular programmes. There has also been a shift in the popularity of the main languages taught in post-primary schools. Spanish has overtaken French for the first time as the most popular language at Key Stage 3, with 84.8% of schools now teaching Spanish, compared to 81% for French, down from 90% in 2023. Irish is also seeing growth at Key Stage 3, taught in 41.9% of schools, up from 35% in 2023. At GCSE level, Spanish remains the most popular language, having held the top spot since overtaking French in 2021. In contrast, French continues to decline, with 11.4% of schools offering post-16 courses reporting that they have discontinued the subject. Meanwhile, Irish is experiencing renewed growth, with entries increasing by 14.9% in 2024 compared to 2023. German has faced a sustained long-term decline, with GCSE entries dropping by more than half since 2002 — from 1,390 to just 638 in 2024. At A-level, Spanish remains the most popular language, followed by Irish and then French. German entries remain low. The report cites several factors as barriers to uptake at post-primary with 49% of post-primary schools reporting language classes won't run without sufficient enrolment, 36.2% report that pupils may be advised by senior leadership not to take a language and a third (33.3%) of schools surveyed discourage lower-attaining pupils from taking languages. Asked what languages they'd like to learn, pupils ranked Italian highest for the second year in a row, with 16.5% of Year 9 pupils interested, followed by Spanish at 14.9% and Irish at 8.3%. Jonathan Stewart, director of British Council Northern Ireland, said: 'We understand that learning a language fosters connections, trust, and understanding between people, communities, and countries. 'Language skills and international experiences are essential valuable assets for Northern Ireland's future, particularly as young people face an increasingly complex and interconnected global landscape.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The UK is going heavy on attack submarines, with plans to build 12 new ones
The Royal Navy is building 12 new SSN-AUKUS attack submarines. They're set to replace the UK's Astute-class attack submarines by the 2030s. It comes as part of the UK government's bid to boost its armed forces amid rising global threats. The UK plans to build 12 new attack submarines as part of sweeping plans to boost the country's military. The Ministry of Defence said Sunday that the SSN-AUKUS vessels would be built as part of the UK's Strategic Review to enhance its military strength amid rising global threats. They'll be deployed as part of the AUKUS alliance between the UK, Australia, and the US, with the submarines having been developed alongside the Australian navy. "Our outstanding submariners patrol 24/7 to keep us and our allies safe, but we know that threats are increasing and we must act decisively to face down Russian aggression," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said. He added: "With new state-of-the-art submarines patrolling international waters and our own nuclear warhead programme on British shores, we are making Britain secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering on our Plan for Change with 30,000 highly-skilled jobs across the country." The submarines are set to replace the UK's current fleet of seven Astute-class attack submarines by the 2030s. The Astute class submarines are nuclear-powered and carry Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles (TLAM) and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes, the UK government said. The Naval Lookout analysis website described the new submarines as an "apex naval predator." "In preparing for potential conflict with other states, SSNs are arguably the most important conventional assets the UK can deploy," it said, adding that they can be used to take out enemy vessels, create blockades, land special forces operatives, and gather intelligence. But Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, told journalists that questions remain over how the target of building 12 submarines would be met on schedule. "There is going to have to be a pretty major culture change within the forces, within the MOD and their relationship with industry to make that more viable," he said. "I would be fascinated to know how they're going to do that because the record is not great up until now," he added. The UK government has pledged to boost defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. Under the plans outlined in its latest Strategic Defence Review, released this week, it will also provide the equivalent of $20 billion in extra funding for the UK's nuclear weapons program. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
The UK is going heavy on attack submarines, with plans to build 12 new ones
The Royal Navy is building 12 new SSN-AUKUS attack submarines. They're set to replace the UK's Astute-class attack submarines by the 2030s. It comes as part of the UK government's bid to boost its armed forces amid rising global threats. The UK plans to build 12 new attack submarines as part of sweeping plans to boost the country's military. The Ministry of Defence said Sunday that the SSN-AUKUS vessels would be built as part of the UK's Strategic Review to enhance its military strength amid rising global threats. They'll be deployed as part of the AUKUS alliance between the UK, Australia, and the US, with the submarines having been developed alongside the Australian navy. "Our outstanding submariners patrol 24/7 to keep us and our allies safe, but we know that threats are increasing and we must act decisively to face down Russian aggression," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said. He added: "With new state-of-the-art submarines patrolling international waters and our own nuclear warhead programme on British shores, we are making Britain secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering on our Plan for Change with 30,000 highly-skilled jobs across the country." The submarines are set to replace the UK's current fleet of seven Astute-class attack submarines by the 2030s. The Astute class submarines are nuclear-powered and carry Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles (TLAM) and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes, the UK government said. The Naval Lookout analysis website described the new submarines as an "apex naval predator." "In preparing for potential conflict with other states, SSNs are arguably the most important conventional assets the UK can deploy," it said, adding that they can be used to take out enemy vessels, create blockades, land special forces operatives, and gather intelligence. But Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, told journalists that questions remain over how the target of building 12 submarines would be met on schedule. "There is going to have to be a pretty major culture change within the forces, within the MOD and their relationship with industry to make that more viable," he said. "I would be fascinated to know how they're going to do that because the record is not great up until now," he added. The UK government has pledged to boost defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. Under the plans outlined in its latest Strategic Defence Review, released this week, it will also provide the equivalent of $20 billion in extra funding for the UK's nuclear weapons program.
Daily Mirror
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
UK cities '90 minutes from being destroyed by missiles' warns former Army chief
The Ministry of Defence has been urged to adopt cutting-edge technology such as AI, robots, and lasers in order to stay ahead and avoid suffering the fate of Ukraine's towns and cities Cruise missiles could obliterate a British city in just 90 minutes, the author of the Strategic Defence Review has warned. Former British Army chief General Sir Richard Barrons said in a stark warning that UK towns and cities could suffer devastation on the scale of Ukraine 's war-ravaged urban centres in the event of full-scale conflict. Speaking on Sky News's Politics Hub, he said: "Right now, we should be very concerned about countries like Russia and how they might try and effect our daily national life. You look at the damage done to places like Kyiv, by missiles and air attack. Those are the same missiles and bombs that could do the same damage to London, Birmingham, Liverpool or Newcastle if we don't take steps to deter that." "We should absolutely be prepared to exist in a world where things like precision missiles can range the UK and do great harm," he added. "That's not to say it's about to happen or imminent, but in terms of the capability, a cruise missile is only 90 minutes away from the UK." Russia is "an immediate and pressing threat", with the invasion of Ukraine making it "unequivocally clear its willingness to use force to achieve its goals", the Strategic Review concluded. China is eanwhile a "sophisticated and persistent challenge [...] "likely to continue seeking advantage through espionage and cyber attacks" - and have 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030. Iran and North Korea are also flagged as regional disruptors. The Defence Review urges the Ministry of Defence to adopt cutting-edge technology - AI, robots, and lasers - to stay ahead. In a Commons statement, Defence Secretary John Healey said: "The threats we face are now more serious and less predictable than at any time since the end of the Cold War. We face war in Europe, growing Russian aggression, new nuclear risks, and daily cyber-attacks at home. Our adversaries are working more in alliance with one another, while technology is changing the way war is fought. We are in a new era of threat, which demands a new era for UK defence." Lord Dannatt, another former Army chief, likened the UK's slow military build-up to "asking Adolf Hitler not to attack until 1946." His damning comparison came as the Prime Minister launched a campaign to make Britain "war-ready"- but refused to commit to raising defence spending to 3% of GDP. "I am not, as the Prime Minister of a Labour government, going to make a commitment as to the precise date until I can be sure precisely where the money is coming from," he said. He warned the UK must ramp up spending amid the mounting threat from Russia and allies, includin gIran and North Korea. During his speech Sir Keir said: "First, we are moving to war-fighting readiness as the central purpose of our armed forces. "When we are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces, the most effective way to deter them is to be ready, and frankly, to show them that we're ready to deliver peace through strength." Asked if he was committed to spending the necessary money to deliver everything in the review, he said: "We are committed to spending what we need to deliver this. That is the basis on which the terms of reference were set and that is the terms on which the review was published. Everything that can be done will be done within the spending envelope that we have." The PM vowed to build "world leading drone capabilities" and invest £15 billion in the UK's nuclear warhead programme, pledging the UK's armed forces will be ten times stronger by 2035. Lord Dannatt told Times Radio: "This rather vague commitment to move to 3% [of GDP on defence] by the end of the next parliament, 2034, it just doesn't stack up. "It's a little bit like saying in 1938 to Adolf Hitler 'please don't attack us until 1946 because we are not going to be ready'."
IOL News
18-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Saving the SANDF from collapse requires bold, decisive action
A South African National Defence Force base in Merebank has now become a shelter for homeless individuals from nearby Lamontville. Image: Doctor Ngcobo/Independent Media By Carl Niehaus On Thursday, May 15, 2025, I delivered a speech in the National Assembly (NA) during a debate on the Midterm Strategic Defence Review of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence, originally tabled on March 23, 2023. Representing the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), I addressed the dire crisis facing the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The SANDF is collapsing, threatening our sovereignty and safety. However, it is not enough to merely criticize and lament its state of decay. We must offer decisive, constructive proposals to turn it around and save it. That is precisely what I did in my speech, and I present its content here as an opinion piece to share these urgent EFF proposals with the broader South African public. The Strategic Review lays bare a SANDF crippled by corruption, maladministration, and a shocking lack of strategic vision. The two-year delay by Parliament in addressing this crisis reflects a shameful failure to prioritize defence. The review, grounded in the 1996 White Paper and the 1998 and 2015 Defence Reviews, shows progress in African representation—rising from 38% in 1994 to 76% today—but this achievement is undermined by systemic rot. A staggering 69% of the defence budget is consumed by salaries, far exceeding the 40% target, leaving equipment maintenance and acquisition starved. The Department of Defence's unfunded organogram is a mockery of accountability, betraying our troops. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The absence of strategy is a travesty. The SANDF's 'Road to Greatness' document, intended for President Ramaphosa in October 2024, remains secret, withheld from Parliament in a blatant assault on oversight. Our soldiers' disastrous deployment in the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—ill-equipped and unsupported — proves the SANDF is incapable of executing foreign missions or ensuring troop safety in its current state. Overextension is killing the force. Beyond defending our borders, the SANDF is burdened with untrained roles like fighting crime, tackling illegal mining, and disaster response, draining resources and eroding readiness. SANDF soldiers deployed under "Operation Corona" at the Free State borderline, Maseru entry port into Lesotho, take the media on a border patrol operation and other engagements onsite. Image: Kamogelo Moichela / IOL The equipment crisis is a national disgrace. Gripen fighters have been unserviceable since 2022; naval frigates and submarines rot without upgrades. The Armscor Dockyard is in shambles, and Project Hoefyster for infantry vehicles is stalled, risking billions in wasteful expenditure. Training has collapsed — Air Force flying hours have plummeted with barely any operational planes. The state of 1 Military Hospital, a dysfunctional construction site for over 15 years, mired in legal disputes over corrupt tenders, is a deadly failure. On April 14, 2025, Warrant Officer M. P. Mncube was denied admission to 1 Military Hospital and tragically passed away. His death, and the loss of heroic soldiers in the DRC, underscores the human cost of this crisis. The EFF dedicates this call to action to their memory. The defence budget, a mere 0.76% of GDP, is an insult compared to the global 2% norm. The Military Skills Development System is skewed, risking future imbalances, and force rejuvenation is stalled, with the average soldier's age now over 40. Without bold intervention, the SANDF will collapse, leaving South Africa defenceless. The EFF's proposals offer the only path to salvation. We demand, as a bare minimum: • The removal of the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, her two ineffective, bungling, deputies, the Chief of the SANDF, and senior command—replaced by capable, accountable leaders. • An independent anti-corruption unit within the Department of Defence, reporting to Parliament, to ensure transparent procurement. • An increase in defence spending to 1.5% of GDP within five years, restoring the 40:30:30 budget ratio for salaries, operations, and capital investment. • A national defence summit to revise the 2015 Defence Review and develop a 10-year modernisation plan. • Improved soldier welfare—better salaries, housing, and healthcare—and a Military Skills Development System aligned with equity targets. • Increased training funds, multinational exercises with BRICS partners, and support for Denel to ensure self-reliance in defence manufacturing. The SANDF's collapse is a crisis we can still avert. These EFF proposals are not mere rhetoric but a roadmap to a disciplined, equipped, and capable defence force. We must act now to honour our soldiers and secure our future, or face consequences far worse than the disastrous DRC deployment. The hour is upon us—South Africa must rise with courage and do what is right. EThis piece is based on the speech I delivered on behalf of the EFF in the National Assembly on May 15, 2025, during the debate on the Midterm Strategic Defence Review of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence. * Carl Niehaus is an EFF MP,. He represents the EFF on the Joint Standing Committee on Defence. ** The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of Independent Media or IOL.
