Some changes are on the way for the French program at the Bruce Grey Catholic School Board.
The board is reducing its core French instruction program from 200 to 160 minutes a week.
Superintendent of Education Catherine Montreuil says the change is in response to a parental survey regarding the program.
Parents were asked if they wanted the School Board to continue offering early French to students and if so in what way.
The majority of parents indicated that they wanted the School Board to continue to offer French to primary students but at a slightly reduced level.
By reducing the instruction time by 40 minutes a week — Montreuil says it will provide more time to focus on other subjects such as English, history and art.
Even with the reduction in French instruction — Montreuil says Catholic students will still receive almost double the amount of French instruction than most elementary students in province.
This is because core French is only mandatory from Grade 4 and up at the elementary level.
Despite this fact, the Bruce Grey Catholic School Board has traditionally offered it from J-K through to grade 8.
As for the Catholic Board’s — French Immersion program changes are also on the way.
The Ministry of Education will release a new curriculum next year — and Montreuil suspects it will place a heavier emphasis on conversational French.
