French to become second national language

Ghana has signed an agreement with the French government on effective teaching and learning of the French language in all first cycle institutions in the country. It is to encourage the speaking and learning of French as an additional language to English, the lingua franca and a way of promoting an effective integration of Ghana with neighbouring French speaking countries.

Education Minister, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi noted that government is committed to ensuring that every child, who passes through any first cycle institution would be able to communicate effectively in French. He said, at the moment, French is taught as an optional subject in schools due to inadequate teaching staff.

The programme, which would be in two phases, would start with the training of additional French teachers and concentration on the speaking of the language. Prof Ameyaw-Akumfi said training programmes have already started at the Mount Mary(quote)s Training College in Somanya, Wesley College in Kumasi and the Gambaga Training College in Tamale, to upgrade the knowledge of French teachers and further train new ones to ensure the success of the programme.

"We will need at about 4,500 teachers to start with, and at least one French teacher per a Junior Secondary School. “The University College of Education, Winneba, would soon be incorporated into the programme to ensure that the programme was carried further to the second cycle and tertiary institutions," he said.

Jean-Michel Berrit, French Ambassador to Ghana, said the French government was committed to the promotion of education in Ghana, adding that it had already provided 1.25 million dollars funding for the course.