Education Minister announces interim location for French first language students

Education Minister Judy Foote is pleased to announce that the Department of Education has approved a lease which will see French first language students in St. John�s move to an alternate location as they await the opening of their new school.

In October 2001, government committed to build a new francophone school in St. John�s. The expected date of opening is 2003. Therefore, in the fall, students attending l�Ecole fran�aise de Saint Jean will move to Monroe Hall on The Boulevard, which currently houses Lakecrest School. Lakecrest School will be vacating this facility.

"Education remains a priority for this government and we strive to provide a quality education for the students of our province," Minister Foote said. "We want children to attend school in facilities that are conducive to learning.

"We continue to work with the Conseil scolaire francophone provin�ial to ensure a smooth transition to this facility, and then to their new school in 2003, to meet the needs of the students and teachers in the French first language program."

An additional $10 million was allocated in the recent budget to address priority construction and renovation in the province�s school system. This is in addition to the $23 million announced last year, bringing the total investment in school construction and renovations since 1996 to $170 million.

To date, students are attending classes in new schools in 11 communities: Buchans, Clarenville, Hopedale, Nain, Norman Bay, Pollard�s Point, Rigolet, Upper Trinity South, Arnold�s Cove, Lethbridge and Pouch Cove. Planning or construction is underway for 15 more facilities.

Media contact: Catherina Kennedy, Communications, (709) 729-0048.

2002 03 28                      12:15 p.m.