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Kampala, Uganda | PATRICIA AKANKWATSA | The French government, in collaboration with Alliance Française de Kampala (AFK), and the Association of French Teachers in Uganda (AFTU) is set to propel French language education in Ugandan secondary schools.
This joint initiative will see a substantial financial injection to enhance learning resources, strengthen teacher training, and expand access to French programs nationwide.
Alliance Française de Kampala and Association des Professeurs de Français en Ouganda (Association of French Teachers in Uganda) are the two actors that will implement the project’s activities. It is a 2-year program and will cost 288,450 euros.
The French government’s commitment emphasizes the growing importance of French language proficiency in Africa. Fluency in French opens doors for Ugandan students not only in France but also across French-speaking nations throughout the continent and beyond.
“This collaborative effort represents a significant step forward in strengthening ties between France and Uganda,” remarked Xavier Sticker French Ambassador to Uganda.
“By investing in French language education, we are equipping Ugandan students with a valuable skillset that will not only foster cultural exchange
“The influx of funds will target specific areas. Ugandan schools with a much-needed boost,” stated Eric Touze, Director of Alliance Française de Kampala.
Additionally, Touze emphasized the importance of teacher training.
“Ugandan French language educators will be offered the opportunity to participate in specialized professional development programs, ensuring they have the latest teaching methodologies at their disposal,”
Under this program, training of secondary school teachers in pedagogical teaching methods which will be conducted by Alliance Française de Kampala. A two-day training for French teachers at the Alliance Française de Kampala under the themes; introduction to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and DELF exams / Practical application, building a session according to the CEFR requirements as well as Gender issues inclusivity.
French teachers in different regions of Uganda will be invited to take part in the training at the Alliance Française de Kampala and can then pass on their knowledge to other regions and create a virtuous circle of trainers and trainees.
In addition, AFK will visit schools and organise fun activities (in French) that can be adapted to large groups, to boost the teaching of French as a foreign language. A Francophone label will be created for 15 partner schools.
Professor Edith Natukunda Tagboa a French professor at Makerere University said that they are happy with the programme because French teachers will get the much-needed materials to teach French.
“Most of this programme is activity-based learning which help us overcome some of the constraints we have been facing,”
“We want to make French a living language by popularizing the language more. French teaching has been only concentrated in Kampala but with the programme, we get to take it countrywide,”
The Association of Professors of French in Uganda will be tasked to strengthen the capacity of French teachers through training 30 teachers in the selected regions, organise Francophile fun camps for secondary school pupils in 5 geographical areas of Uganda (West Nile, North, Central, West and East), as well as create audiovisual teaching resources adapted to the contexts, French teachers and learners in Uganda.
