After weeks of criticism from the Opposition, New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham has stated his position on his government's decision to eliminate early French immersion in the province.

"This decision is right and I stand by it and our government stands by it today," Graham told the legislature on Friday.

Beginning in September, students in New Brunswick's English schools will not receive French language education until Grade 5, at which point they will go through a mandatory intensive five-month program. In Grade 6, the students will then have the option of continuing with an immersion program or taking French as a separate subject that would be mandatory until high school graduation.

Graham had been criticized for not stating his opinion on the plan, which was announced by Education Minister Kelly Lamrock in March.

Lamrock brushed off the questions in the legislature directed at Graham earlier this week.

"Once again we see an Opposition that's focused on the premier. We're focused on the kids," Lamrock told the house.

After the ongoing criticisms, Graham on Friday stood in support of the new language policy.

"While I respect and applaud the passion parents are expressing for their children's education, our government, our minister and I, as premier, did not and will not make decisions about education based on pressure from some while the needs of so many are overwhelming," Graham said.

It's unacceptable that under the current system, only 20 per cent of students are bilingual when they graduate high school, said the premier.

The changes will give all students eight years of effective instruction in the second language, he said.

But Geoff Martin, a political science professor at Mount Allison University, said the decision to cut early immersion may turn into a mistake for the Liberal government.

"The opposition the government's facing … they're well educated and they have a strong sense of efficacy," Martin said. "They believe they should be able to have an effect on government or they're accustomed to having an effect on government. They're not accustomed to being ignored."

The many critics of the changes to the English education system aren't likely to stand down, Martin said.

If the Graham government does continue to move forward with its plan to cut early immersion, it could easily become a major issue in the next election, he said.