3 hrs ago
Campaign Seeks to Revive Gujarati Teaching in British Schools
Teachers and education experts met in Hayes to discuss how to strengthen Gujarati lessons in British schools.
Gujarati is spoken by many families in the United Kingdom.
However, the number of students entering GCSE Gujarati has fallen by 44 per cent in ten years.
Community schools are facing higher costs and difficulty finding affordable buildings.
The Covid pandemic and other weekend activities have also made it harder for students to attend classes.
Gareth Thomas, an MP, wants schools and the government to give Gujarati teaching more support.
The conference explored how artificial intelligence and learning apps could help teachers and students.
Participants also discussed making it easier for Saturday-school students to take their GCSE exams.
Organisers plan to continue working together and may use the same approach to support Tamil schools.
A national Gujarati education conference was held at the Navnat Centre in Hayes on Saturday 19.
GCSE Gujarati entries have fallen by 44 per cent over the past decade.
Organisers cited rising costs, unaffordable premises, Covid disruption and competing weekend activities as challenges.
Workshops examined artificial intelligence, learning apps and other approaches to support Gujarati teaching.
Gareth Thomas wants stronger government and exam-board support, easier GCSE access and a similar model for Tamil schools.
- Who
- Educators, school leaders, language specialists, community Gujarati schools and Gareth Thomas took part.
- What
- The National Gujarati Education Conference for Leaders & Teachers 2026 discussed reversing the decline in Gujarati education.
- Where
- The Navnat Centre in Hayes, greater London.
- When
- Saturday 19; the article does not specify the month.
- Why
- Organisers want to address falling GCSE entries and barriers including costs, premises, Covid disruption and limited government and exam-board support.
Key facts
- Event
- National Gujarati Education Conference for Leaders & Teachers 2026
- Venue
- Navnat Centre, Hayes, greater London
- GCSE decline
- Gujarati entries have fallen 44 per cent in a decade
- Host
- Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West
- Co-hosts
- Bernadette Holmes MBE and Sonal Shah
- Technology focus
- Artificial intelligence and learning apps for heritage-language teaching
- Future plans
- Support Tamil-language schools and improve local GCSE access for Saturday-school students
Quotes
Gareth Thomas
MP for Harrow West and organiser of the Gujarati education campaign
“Given the world we are in and the importance of India as a country for Britain to do business with going forward, never mind the strong social and cultural links we have, it makes sense for Britain to try to build up its understanding of the languages of India. Gujarati is, without question, one of the key ones.”
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“There are huge benefits for young people in learning the language of their parents and their peers. You can gain confidence in the classroom in one area, and that confidence can help build up your ability in other areas of the curriculum, as well.”
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Sources
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