MALMO, Sweden, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Two politicians in the Swedish city of Malmo have proposed banning foreign languages from the schools.
Allan Widman, a member of parliament representing the Liberal Party, told The Local that in Malmo, a major port across from Copenhagen, a majority of the students are the children of immigrants. He said many are having trouble in school because they do not speak Swedish well.
"We want to give the opportunity for people who speak other languages in their spare time and in their homes to practice their Swedish in schools," he said.
He is supported in his plan by Eva Bertz, a local official.
Widman said there was little discussion when he and Bertz brought up the idea during an election campaign. But the proposal has become more controversial.
He said the ban would apply only during formal classroom time and students would be free to talk to each other in their native languages.
Widman and Bertz hope to convince a majority of the local council to incorporate their proposal in the overall school plan.
