Committee to Explore Direction of Immersion Programs

The Department of Education has asked for a committee to be formed with the Halifax Regional School Board to explore the future direction of its French immersion programs.

Students generally attend the community schools closest to their homes. Currently in the Halifax board, some students have to attend schools further from home because the immersion program is either full or not offered in their community schools.

"Through the Beaufort, Clayton Park West and other experiences, we've heard concerns from parents about the movement of their children from school to school to access the program," said Education Minister Jane Purves. "We want to work on a long-term plan with the board to address these concerns."

The department has invited the school board and Canadian Parents for French - Nova Scotia to identify representatives to be on the committee. It will be chaired by Andrée Green, director of French second-language programs for the department.

The minister stressed that the committee will not be reviewing the school board's decision to close École Beaufort.

"There are many factors, including pockets of increased demand for French immersion, that will be considered by the committee," said Ms. Purves. "The goal is to improve the delivery of the program so that students can reap the full benefits of second- language education."

Concerns about the delivery of French immersion programs have not been raised in other school boards.