Francophone diversity
Francophonie Month in March is an opportunity to participate in activities taking place across the country to celebrate our language, culture and traditions. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the extraordinary development of French-language education in Ontario.
French-language education is a hard-won constitutional right in Ontario. There is no need to recount the history. When we take a moment to consider the situation of the French Catholic school board (Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est – CECCE), we can only admire all the work that has been accomplished by those who laid the foundation.
From all backgrounds
The CECCE has more than 25,500 students in 45 elementary schools, 13 secondary schools, one adult school and the Virtual Learning Academy, on a territory larger than Belgium and covering 33,543 square kilometres. It is the largest Canadian network of French-language schools outside Quebec.
Students in CECCE schools come from 116 countries, including Francophone countries and countries with a large proportion of Francophones, such as Burundi, Haiti, Congo, Cameroon, Lebanon, Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire. The Francophonie is diverse, and this is truer than ever at the CECCE when we consider where students and staff come from.
Many advantages
The advantages of attending a French-language school are obviously numerous. First, students are immersed in a French teaching environment that gives them good command of both official languages at the end of their schooling, thanks to English courses as of Grade 4. This is a major advantage for those who can offer their services on the labour market by promoting proficiency in both English and French.
Second, there are social and cultural benefits. Attending a CECCE school allows students to discover French-language arts and culture. It also allows them to sign up for sport/study programs in French. All in a Catholic setting.
It goes without saying that learning in French in a CECCE school opens up horizons.
Image: Javier Trueba – Unsplash
The CECCE team
