Provincial French Education Day

On the first day of the provincial French for the Future conference, Education Minister Joan Burke declared April 25 as French Education Day in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"We have a lot to celebrate this day," said Minister Burke. "Each year, a greater percentage of students are registering to learn our country�s other official language. We have thousands of students learning French through Core French, French Immersion and French first language programming. This is great news, not only for our province, but for future career and educational opportunities for these students."

The minister noted that there is French culture and influence in many areas of the province. There is an important francophone presence in Labrador, on the Port au Port peninsula, and in the capital city. The francophone and Acadian community of Newfoundland and Labrador is important to the province as a whole and forms an intrinsic part of our provincial heritage.

"Students enrolled in French education will come to a better understanding of this important part of our heritage and to a better appreciation of French language and traditions. It is important to encourage bilingualism. People with more than one language can better embrace national and international career opportunities, and the department of education will continue to work with our federal counterparts, school boards and provincial associations to support French language education," said the minister.

Approximately 40,000 students are enrolled in Core French, while another 6,800 are studying French Immersion in the K-12 system.

Media contact: Jacquelyn Howard, Communications, (709) 729-0048, 689-2624

2006 04 25                                         9:30 a.m.