Archive · 24 Sep 2026
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.
- When
- Saturday 19; the article does not specify the month.
- Where
- The Navnat Centre in Hayes, greater London.
- Why
- Organisers want to address falling GCSE entries and barriers including costs, premises, Covid disruption and limited government and exam-board support.
- 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