Government to boost teaching of French language

Cyprus will boost French language teaching at its secondary schools and is also looking at introducing the French language exams Delf Scolaire, Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou told France’s ambassador Salina Grenet-Catalano on Monday.

Their meeting followed a recent teleconference between Prodromou and his French counterpart. Cyprus is due to expand French language teaching in year two of high school, starting with a pilot programme at six lyceums and four technical schools in September 2021 and aiming to expand it more generally from September 2022.

Efforts are underway to meet the housing requirements of the Franco-Cypriot school and to set up a branch in Limassol to operate from September 2022, he added.

Prodromou told Catalano that in order to boost educational ties between the two countries, Cyprus wanted to sign Memoranda of Understanding such as those signed with the Academies of Paris and Grenoble with other academies. The ministry was also encouraging the twinning of Cypriot schools with French educational institutions and the participation of pupils in Erasmus+ programmes.

Also discussed were seminars on university studies in France for guidance counsellors, French language certification courses for French language teachers and the renewal of an agreement to host French Master’s students for practical training at schools here.