The body that scrapped Turkish GCSE and A levels has hinted the exams could return, but only with more resources.
In an essay published the day after the general election, policy chief Paul Steer said the OCR examination board “has not [completely] ruled developing GCSEs and A Levels” in languages like Turkish provided it can secure more teachers and assessors for the subject.
Turkish was dropped as a subject in February, when the OCR announced the last exams would be sat in 2017, but a community outcry and Londra Gazete campaign forced the main political parties to guarantee their future.
Paul Steer, Head of Policy at the OCR
Mr Steer’s essay, which was published in part in the Times Education Supplement last Friday, appears to open the door for the language exams’ reinstatement.
But it criticises the previous coalition government for not having a view on students taking exams in their native language, like Turkish.
He said: “Language GCSEs are not designed for native speakers. The awarding process is most reliable when the range of ability is spread across the cohort, and where there are a large number of candidates.
“Neither of these is true for the lesser taught languages.”
Labour’s shadow education minister Tristram Hunt had said his party would secure the future of Turkish and other lesser taught foreign languages if it forms the next government.
It triggered a similar commitment from the Conservatives’ Nicky Morgan, who wrote to examination board directors telling them her party would “guarantee” the future of language exams, including Turkish.
Ms Morgan was reappointed Education Secretary after the Conservatives won the general election.
But Mr Steer warns that party commitments could be reversed: “Policy decisions “made in haste (or the heat of an election) are often repented at leisure.”
He says any government that insists languages like Turkish are still offered would have to ensure more teachers and exam assessors are made available. Only with such backing can the OCR sustain entrant numbers and the experts need to maintain the qualification.
More than 2,500 people have signed a Londra Gazete petition calling for the reinstatement of Turkish exams.
