By Sariba Manneh
The Gambia French Teachers Association (FTA) in partnership with Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MOBSE), stakeholders and students of the West Coast Region celebrated 20 years Francophone Day held at Latrikunda UBS, Charles Jaw UBS\SSS and Regional 2 conference hall on 18th 20th and 22rd respectively.
The celebration was characterized by march pass, poetry, drama performance and cultural activities to commemorate the Francophone Day.
This celebration also demonstrated the relationship between the Francophone and Anglophone countries as and to developed West African countries’ economic.
Speaking to The Voice shortly after the conference, Andrew Sambou, French programme coordinator at MOBSE, said the commemoration aimed at enlightening Gambian especially the children, saying that French language is important but many failed to understand the value of second language.
He described French as the second language in the UN system and called on government to indicate French in the core subjects so that every student will be part of the class in their schools.
“This will help the children to be fluent in the second language and enable them work with international organizations in the future,” he said.
However, he commended all and sundry for participating in the celebration while expressed gratitude to the entire students for their tremendous efforts during the course of the commemoration.
Alhagie Jarra, French Focal Point at Region 2 Brikama said the celebration was mean to socialize and find out the factors affecting the improvement of speaking French language as well to bring mechanisms to ensure French fluency in the country.
“The problem of French fluency is because people are not sensitized on the importance of French in our career especially the student. We also lack enough qualify French teachers and learning materials in the country,” he noted.
Lamin Fatajo, officer at region 2 advised the students to be serious with French lesson since it’s also among international languages in the world.
“However, if you want to market yourself you must speak two or three language including English, French and Arabic. MOBSE is doing its best to ensure French is also among the core subjects,” he said.