Oluchi Chibuzor
Having been in Nigeria for the past 40 years, the French School of Lagos, has reiterated its commitment to deliver multilingual educational experience.
This is coming as the school just renovated and installed state-of-the-art STEM laboratories to equip students with the right educational resources as obtained in French Schools in France.
Taking journalists on a tour of the newly built facilities during the school’s open day recently, the Principal, Sylvain Malrieu, said it operates the same curriculum as obtained in France that delivers world class education.
Malrieu stated the school runs a 100 per cent French curriculum, adding that subjects are taught in French language except for dedicated hours of English and art classes per week.
He emphasisied that since French will soon become a global language, it was imperative for non- French native speakers to take advantage of the school as it allows them to access visas and further their education in France.
With over 30 nationalities and 530 students schooling with them, he explained that the school which is supported by the French Government is powered with solar for 24 hours electricity.
He reiterated that since they are committed to provide World class teaching, the school boost of digital and STEM laboratories, sporting and special needs programmes and library for the total well being of every student.
“Our curriculum is 100 per cent French curriculum, that means what students are learning is exactly the same as the curriculum that is in French and at the end of the high school they pass French exams. Our Nigerian students are fluent enough in French to pass the same exams as French native speakers.
“In addition to those two languages, students are offered German, Spanish, Arabic and Latin as options in secondary school. They are taught by a team of qualified, experienced and dedicated professionals who are committed to helping your children reach their full potential.”
The school receives £1 million from the French Government as subsidies per year to help the school finance teacher’s training for French curriculum and security.
The Vice-Principal, Funke Bowoto, said that French Schools are like a web around the world as they have over 600 of them globally.
According to her, “the world is very interesting for kids to speak French. Of course you are well aware that maybe before the end of the century French will be the first language of the world. Thanks to Africa. Because education is compulsory to all French citizens that is why you have French Schools abroad to cater for all the French nationals wherever they are in the world.”
