TEACHING OF ENGLISH AND FRENCH LANGUAGES
5th – 6th October, 2011
The meeting of experts on the teaching of English and French languages as tool for socio-economic development and integration within the Alliance, was held in Lome Togo from 5th to 6th October, 2011. The meeting was attended by member states of COPAZ with the exception of the Republic of Benin.
The aim of the meeting was to brain storm and make appropriate recommendation for the consideration of the Council of Ministers. The Executive Secretary of COPAZ Dr. Prince Fatai Adeyemi in his welcome address underscored the vision and goals of COPAZ with emphasis on enhancing solidarity and collaboration among member states in order to mitigate the effects of poverty in the region.
He also emphasized the importance of learning the two languages by people of the region in order to foster cooperation, understanding and cross-country movement of people and goods. To this end he called for the development of methodology and draft mechanism to aid the work of the development of the Alliance.
In declaring the meeting open, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and cooperation of Togo, Dr Kokou KPAYEDO emphasized the need for compulsory teaching of French and English languages in the educational curriculum of member nations. This, he posited can lead to the mobilization of workers within the region for greater integration. He underlined the challenges encountered in learning other languages apart from one’s mother tongue. According to him, the two languages French and English are factors of unity and means of exchange and passport to the third millennium. He advocated the breaking linguistic barriers through collaboration between COPAZ and other partners such as the Francophonie and UNESCO.
The meeting elected its bureau to guide its work. In this regard, the following were appointed by acclamation.
Chairman – Togo
Vice-Chairman – Ghana
Rapporteurs-Togo and Nigeria.
The Deputy Executive Secretary, in his presentation, recalled the establishment of COPAZ by the Heads of States of the four member States in February 2007, noted the peculiarities that distinguish COPAZ from other regional initiatives. According to him language, culture and communication are imperatives to development. He urged the meeting to look into the feasibility Funding and objectives, and make recommendations for submission to the Council of Ministers and Assembly of Heads of States for consideration and possible implementation.
Thereafter, the meeting went into countries presentations on actions taken by member states in teaching French and English languages in their respective countries.
Papers were presented by members countries present as follows:
Togo agreed with the goal of making English compulsory in their country. Togo observed that students could not communicate effectively in English after basic education. It was therefore suggested that the curriculum should emphasize communicative skills in English language. It was also suggested that training of teachers should be embarked upon and that English language be added to the teacher training curriculum. Togo also noted that funding is a hindrance to achieving proficiency in English language by their students as funds are not readily available.
Ghana highlighted its linguistic policies and educational system, with attendant challenges of inadequate number of qualified teachers. Ghana pointed out that 100 French language teachers are trained every year. Each of the 10 regions in Ghana has a French language training centre. Ghana also informed the meeting that she requires 4000 French language teachers.
Obsolete teaching method is a major challenge in Ghana. Teaching equipment needs to be modernized. Exchange of foreign language students in Benin and Togo for language immersion needs to be expanded. Ghana also informed the meeting about the internship program between Ghana and Burkina-Faso.
Nigeria posits that COPAZ Members States are one because of their cultural background and the fact that the States share the same languages. Therefore, this integration will be easily achieved. Nigeria presented past and ongoing actions of government in promoting French language. Some of these actions are:
1960’s French language was integrated into West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE).
1970’s French language became compulsory for post graduate students.
- Nigeria French Language Village (NFLV) was established.
- In 1996 Government made a pronouncement that French should be a second official language.
- Deliberate effort was initiated to improve the state of French in the National Policy on Education (NPE).
- Nigerian French Language Project (NFLP) was established as the organ of the Federal Ministry of Education in 1998.
- Collaboration between France and Nigeria in establishing a number of centres for French language teaching, documentation and in service training.
After extensive discussions the meeting came up with the following recommendations:
Objective
1- To strategize on modality for the attainment of COPAZ goals through the use of French and English languages.
2- To identify and prioritize actions that would enhance teaching and diffusion of English and French languages for integration and development in the Alliance.
Feasibility
1- Make French and English languages compulsory in Primary and Secondary Schools.
2- Emphasise functional and communicative skills in both languages in the curriculum.
3- Focus on capacity building of teachers and monitoring bodies in member countries.
4- Organize language immersion programme for students in English and French languages.
5- Carry out situational analysis, need assessment.
6- COPAZ should produce a work plan and budget.
7- COPAZ should organize quarterly workshops and seminars for the two languages for experts and teachers.
8- Member states should establish (more) Language Centres.
9- COPAZ should assist local publishers to publish books in French and English languages.
10- Media and publicity mechanisms should be put in place by member states,
11-COPAZ should study other initiatives in the zone.
Funding
- Private sector should be involved in funding COPAZ activities.
- Involve the private sector in the teaching of French and English languages.
- Technical and financial partners should be consulted e.g: ECOWAS, AU, WAEMU (UEMOA), UNESCO, British Council, Commonwealth, UNICEF, USAID, Francophonie, JЛСА.
- Countries should include funding of English and French Language in their budgets.