Growing opportunities for enseignants qui parlent francais

Although overall student enrolment in BC has been declining for several years, there has been a significant increase in the number of students enrolling in schools operated by the Conseil scolaire francophone (CSF). Enrolment is up 52 percent from 2000-2001, with more than 4,000 students enrolled in the district's 38 francophone schools across the province.

This growth in enrollment has resulted in the need for new schools, and in April 2009, the provincial government announced plans to build a new school for CSF students in Campbell River.

"We are delighted to be getting this new school as it will allow us to better serve Francophone students living in the Campbell River area," said CSF chair Marie Bourgeois. "This recognizes the vitality and steady growth of French-speaking schools in British Columbia as well as the desire of parents to benefit from Francophone education."

The CSF offers a francophone education for children who have at least one parent with francophone roots. Unlike French Immersion programs, which are designed for students from non-French-speaking families who are learning French for the first time in a school setting, francophone education is for children whose parents speak French as a first language or who received their primary school instruction in French.

In addition to needing new schools to meet growing demand, the CSF also needs educators qualified to teach in a francophone environment. So if you meet the French language requirements of the CSF, you may find many opportunities to share your love and knowledge of French language and culture with the next generation. Bonne chance!