Ethnic groups find recipe for success

May 14 2008

SEVENTY candidates took part in four Ethnic Language Elementary courses in food hygiene, delivered in Cantonese, Punjabi, and Urdu.

The course was run by South Lanarkshire Council’s Environmental Health Service.

Although course handbooks and exam papers have always been available in ethnic languages, staff recognised that providing the course in the first language of the candidates would be the best way to deliver training.

Councillor Hamish Stewart, depute chair of the community resources committee, said: “Traditional routes of study are not always available to those who do not have English as a first language.

“We are pro-active in our food hygiene training and with such a rich cultural diversity in catering throughout Lanarkshire, it is important to encourage all restaurant owners to take advantage of the food hygiene courses we have on offer.

“Offering these courses in the first language is the best way to deliver the training, we are pleased with the uptake on courses.”