Prioritise teaching of French in schools

The Ghana Association of French Teachers (GAFT) on Wednesday advocated the need for government to prioritise the teaching and learning of French Language in schools.

It said Ghana is surrounded by three Francophone countries therefore proficient speaking of French would boost bilateral and multi-lateral relations and strengthen sub-regional integration for socio-economic development.

The Association said there was therefore the need for Government to formulate a language policy that would prioritise the teaching and learning of French in schools, to whip up the interest of students to study the language.

The President of GAFT, Mr. Justice Sallah, made the call at the 56th Annual Congress of the Association held at the Archbishop Porter Girls’ Senior High School in Takoradi.

It was on the theme: “Language Policy on the Teaching and Learning of Foreign Languages in Ghana – Rescuing the French Language”.

It brought together French teachers across the country to take stock and strategise the way forward for the teaching and learning of the Language.

Mr Sallah stated that although some achievements had been chalked in the teaching and learning of French in Ghana, without a progressive language policy that would oblige all implementers to promote the teaching and learning of the language, the noble intention of the Association would be fruitless.

He said the Association in its efforts to whip up the interest of students in the language, introduced Reading Competition in French for both basic and second cycle students last year, and assured that they would sustain the momentum, to improve proficiency of the language among students.

The Western Regional Minister, Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, in a speech read on his behalf, charged French teachers to find innovative means of making the teaching and learning of the language attractive to students.

He said Government attached great importance to the teaching and learning of French, and that the language had been listed among ‘group one” subjects alongside Mathematics, English and Science.

He announced that the government has provided a 60 per cent quota allocation of study-leave-with-pay for teachers who study French at the tertiary level up to the Post-graduate level, and encouraged French teachers to take advantage of the opportunity to improve upon their competencies.

“I strongly believe that a policy to make the study of French examinable and compulsory at the basic and secondary levels should be given serious attention by curriculum developers,” he noted.

The Minister observed that proficient speaking of French would facilitate the integration of the sub-region and make people competitive in the global job market, especially as the world had become a global village.