ArmInfo. A partnership agreement for the development of French language teaching in schools of the Republic of Armenia was signed today at secondary school No. 148 named after Mushegh Galshoyan between the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia and the French Embassy in Armenia.
According to the press service of the Ministry, the document was signed by RA Minister of Education and Science Vahram Dumanyan and French Ambassador to our country Jonathan Lacote. In this regard, Dumanyan noted that the Armenian-French relations have a centuries-old history and a solid foundation, and this initiative is really symbolic from the point of view of strengthening the Armenian- French friendship and cooperation. At the same time, he expressed his conviction that interest in the French language is increasing in Armenia from year to year.
The Minister recalled that since 2012, in-depth study of the French language has been carried out in 10 schools in Armenia, and in 2021-22, due to the expansion of the program, 6 more schools and one college will join this list.
"The peculiarity of the program for in-depth study of the French language is that it is implemented in educational institutions of Yerevan, Gyumri, Ijevan, Hrazdan, Goris, Yeghegnadzor, Spitak, Vanadzor and Echmiadzin. This proves that interest in the French language is growing in the regions of Armenia as well, '' Dumanyan said, while expressing the hope that in the medium and long term, new program initiatives will be implemented aimed at the continuous development of the potential of teachers teaching French in secondary schools in Armenia. ...
At the same time, he expressed his conviction that the Armenian-French cooperation in this industry will have a long-term character, and the partnership agreement signed today will become the basis for the implementation of new joint programs.
In turn, the French Ambassador noted that this expansion is not only quantitative, but also qualitative, since high schools will join the program for the first time. <For students who studied French in school, the program will provide an opportunity to continue learning
French in high school. And high school 148 will allow students of 4 secondary schools to continue studying French in high school, "the Ambassador emphasized, adding that schools outside the capital have also joined the program. He said that he visited schools with in-depth study of the French language, where he met with aspiring teachers and students.
Presenting the scope of cooperation arising from the memorandum, Jonathan Lacote emphasized that French-language schools can connect with schools in France or French-speaking countries, organize exchanges, etc.
"Armenia is a member of the International Organization of Francophonie and recently hosted the Francophonie Summit. The French language training program can testify to Armenia's commitment to the values of Francophonie," Lacote said, confirming the uniqueness of the Armenian-French relations and learning each other's language in this plane.
To note, according to the agreement, schools implementing the program in-depth French will be complemented by educational materials, and teachers will be retrained. In 2021-2022 academic year, four schools will open classes with advanced study of the French language (grades 2-9), classes with in-depth study of the French language (grades 10-12) will also be opened in three high schools.