Sam Sharpe college starts initiative to revive French education in Ja

In a ground-breaking move to address Jamaica's critical shortage of French teachers, Sam Sharpe Teachers' College (SSTC) in Montego Bay, St James has forged a partnership with the French Embassy. The initiative comes at a time when fewer than 10 French teachers are presently in training across all of Jamaica's teachers' colleges.

The significance of the collaboration was highlighted during a recent cultural exchange where French Ambassador to Jamaica, Olivier Guyonvarch, and his wife, visited the college's Modern Languages Department. The visit marked a pivotal step in strengthening French language education in Jamaica's schools.

"Across our country we face a significant challenge where French language education is severely limited," explained SSTC Principal Ricardo Bennett.

"Very few high schools offer French at the CSEC level, and some have completely eliminated it from their curriculum. At Sam Sharpe Teachers' College we view this as an opportunity to revitalise French language instruction and restore its position as a vital second language offering in our schools," he added.

The interactive cultural programme, organised by the college's Modern Languages Department, provided an opportunity for aspiring French teachers.

"As one of the few colleges that offer this specialised training to teachers, we believed it was essential for our students to engage in direct dialogue with the ambassador," Bennett stated.

He stressed that the ambassador's presence "symbolises the strong educational and cultural bonds between France and Jamaica.

French Ambassador to Jamaica, Olivier Guyonvarch (left foreground) is captivated by a performance from the Lion King by students of the Modern Languages Department of Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College during his recent visit to the college, aimed at strengthening French language education in Jamaica's schools.

"In today's interconnected world, our role as an institution shaping future educators demands that we embrace international perspectives and cross-cultural values," Bennett underscored.

"SSTC's commitment to French language excellence is evident in our Modern Languages Department, where a tradition of quality instruction meets contemporary teaching methods. This diplomatic visit is a unique opportunity that will inspire students and faculty, particularly those engaged in French studies."

Guyonvarch expressed the view that Sam Sharpe is a national hero who in the past fought and sacrificed his life for the freedom of the people of Jamaica, but the SSTC students, who will be future teachers, are heroes of the future because "you are the ones who are going to build this nation.

“You are the ones who are going to make young Jamaican students free by knowledge.”

He said while no French scholarships were on offer, studying at French universities is very affordable, and encouraged students to consider it as a viable option.