By Melissa Hills For Daily Mail Australia Julie Hayes, principal Cowandilla Primary School in Adelaide Proposals for more Mandarin to be taught in schools across Australia has been hailed as 'brilliant news'. The South Australian government is considering an English-Mandarin bi-lingual program that could start in early 2016 to help strengthen cultural and economic links with China. A working group is looking at the benefits of establishing a bilingual school, the programme would start from primary school age to Year 12 students. Julie Hayes, principal Cowandilla Primary School in Adelaide told Daily Mail Australia, she thought it was a 'fine idea' if the school did not already teach a language.
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Experts say it is 'brilliant news' for  students across Australia
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'It would help us understand the Chinese perspective, values, family and religion', says principal
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Being bilingual in English and Mandarin will be a 'distinct advantage' to the jobs market
'I understand that English-speaking students need to engage in around 2,800 hours of intense, focused study to become proficient in @placeholder - this is only possible in an immersion environment.