ATAR points bonus recommended to increase Asian language studies

A new parliamentary report warns that Australia faces a strategic vulnerability: not enough citizens speak Asian languages. The recommended fix? Give bonus points toward university admission—the ATAR score—for students who complete Asian language studies in year twelve, like Mandarin, Japanese, or Korean. Officials call this a 'sovereign risk' to the country's regional standing. The proposal is part of a larger push to overhaul how Australia approaches Asian language education.

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