Mrs Lucy Mbun Awuni, the Upper East Deputy Regional Minister, at the weekend said Ghana could not be left behind in the study of international languages such as French as the country moved towards a more integrated, interdependent global economy.
Mrs Awuni said the geographical location of the country as a neighbour to francophone countries helped in promoting free movement of goods and people among the sub region.
She said this called for the examination of the role French language would play, “if we are to integrate our economies.”
She said Ghana would pay a heavy price if the study of the French language was not taken with seriousness since the country could lose out important executive positions in the sub region.
Mrs Awuni said this during the celebration of the Regional French Language Awareness Day in Bolgatanga sponsored by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
She urged teachers of the subject to device methodologies to make teaching and learning of French Language friendly so as to encourage more students to take up the subject.
She said Government was committed to creating the necessary environment for educational institutions through the establishment of infrastructure, scholarship and enhanced salary for teachers. She urged them to take advantage of the study leave with pay package to upgrade their knowledge and skills to enable them meet the current educational challenges.
She said the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) would not hesitate to assist any educational institution that would organize exposure trips to the neighboring countries.
Mrs Agnes Atagabe, Regional Director, Ghana Education Service, said foreign languages like French not only promoted peace and tranquillity among bilingual and multi-lingual countries but also cultural diversity which was a tool for poverty reduction.
She called on government to make provision for national budgets to enable educational institutions to improve French teaching and learning in school.
Mrs Hellen Atanga, Unit Head of the Regional Centres for Teaching of French, said the centre was championing French awareness creation to improve the quality of the teaching of French.
This involves in service training, follow up visits, production of teaching materials, advice and support for teachers.