By Abdou Mbye
The French Programme Coordination Unit under the Curriculum Research Evaluation and Development Directorate (CREDD) at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) in collaboration with Alliance Francaise on Thursday, 24 November, 2022 celebrated International Day of French Teachers.
The convergence that brought together French teachers, students, and various stakeholders was meant to recognise the efforts of French teachers and the advancement of the French language in Gambia’s basic education sector, as well as to demonstrate the importance of French as second most widely spoken international language; and especially in diplomacy and foreign policy discourse.
The French teachers used the opportunity to highlight the challenges they are faced with and called for extra support to make the French language attractive to Gambian students and Gambians at large.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary at MoBSE, Mr Louis Moses Mendy emphasised the need to take holistic approach towards promoting the French language in The Gambia. He urged teachers to motivate the students by giving them maximum support to pursue French in their academic career.
“The teaching of French will be strengthened. We are trying by all means to make it compulsory in our schools. We are missing out a lot of international jobs not because we do not meet the qualification or the criteria but we are found wanting in the language”.
In an interview with this reporter, the Head of Mission and Charge de affairs of the French Embassy in The Gambia, H.E. Jean-Charles ALLARD said that it was the first time such event is celebrated at the Alliance Francaise, and yearned to establish very strong links and cooperation with MOBSE.
“We will do our best to promote the usage and learning of French in The Gambia. We are proud that the Gambia has embraced the learning of French … We are preparing something with the University of The Gambia in order to strengthen the level of mastery of the language by the teachers and the students”, the French diplomat revealed.
