Committee Makes Recommendations for French Immersion

The committee reviewing the delivery of French immersion in the Halifax Regional School Board has submitted its final report to Nova Scotia's Minister of Education.

The report acknowledges that French immersion is a successful and beneficial program and outlines several recommendations for improvement.

"The report shows the Halifax board has made good progress in the delivery of French immersion over the years," said Education Minister Jane Purves, today, July 10. "The members of this committee worked well together to explore the issues and make recommendations. The report should lead to improved stability and access for students wanting the French immersion experience."

The committee included representatives from Canadian Parents for French, the Halifax school board, the Department of Education and the federal Department of Canadian Heritage.

The report recommends that the board make the French immersion program school-based by designating 'area schools' throughout the school board. With this approach, students would register at and attend the designated school in their areas.

Other recommendations include making information for parents available at the area schools and considering the French immersion program in long-term plans for school boundaries and new schools.

"The Halifax Regional School Board has an ongoing commitment to providing a quality French immersion program and we welcome advice on how we might continue to improve the program," said Michael Flemming, chair of the Halifax board. "The recommendations have implications for all our students, and we look forward to meeting with the minister to discuss the report and the potential cost factors."

Parents whose children attended École Beaufort and Clayton Park West raised concerns about students being moved from school to school in order to continue French immersion.

Their concerns prompted the review of the French immersion program this spring. The committee was not formed to review the closure of École Beaufort.

"The committee worked well and quickly to arrive at its report," said Milton Graves, president of the Halifax regional chapter of Canadian Parents for French. "We hope the process will lead to improved stability in delivery and fairness in the application of policies and procedures that govern French immersion programs in the board. We also hope that access to the program can grow to meet growing demand."

The minister asked the board to consider the recommendations and provide a response to the report by the end of the summer.

A copy of the report is available on the Department of Education Web site at www.ednet.ns.ca .