“14th Consecutive year of growth”: CPF
EDMONTON – 2013/14 marked a 14th consecutive year of growth for French immersion in Alberta, and the largest total enrolment since the program was first offered here in the early 1970s.
Just under 41,000 students were enrolled in French immersion in 2013/14, an increase of almost 5.83% over the previous year. The program involved 6.2% of the total Alberta K-12 student enrolment, and was offered in 47 communities throughout the province.
The number of Alberta students studying French as a subject (called “FSL” in Alberta, “core French” elsewhere in Canada) slightly increased last year by almost 900. According to data provided by Alberta Education, core French enrolment for the 2013/14 school year was more than 147,000, or more than 22% of the total student enrolment.
“CPF is very pleased with these increases,” says Dr. Richard Slevinsky, President of Canadian Parents for French, Alberta Branch. “Our belief is that French is integral part of Canada and that high quality, effective French-second-language programs need to continue being delivered so that Alberta’s students help our province remain an important leader of the global economy.”
Canadian Parents for French is the national network of volunteers which values French as an integral part of Canada and which is dedicated to the promotion and creation of French-second-language learning opportunities for young Canadians. There are currently 21,000 members across Canada and 3,000 in Alberta.