A "Partnership Agreement on the Advancement of French Language Teaching in Schools of the Republic of Armenia" was signed today at the High School № 148 after Mushegh Galshoyan between the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia and the Embassy of France in the Republic of Armenia. The document was signed by the RA ESCS Minister Vahram Dumanyan and Ambassador of the Republic of France to Armenia Jonathan Lacote.

RA ESCS Minister Vahram Dumanyan congratulated the participants on the signing of the partnership agreement and noted that the Armenian-French relations have a century-old history and strong basis, and this initiative is really symbolic also in terms of strengthening the Armenian-French friendship and collaboration.

According to Vahram Dumanyan, the interest in French language is growing in Armenia year by year, and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia undertakes large-scale activities to foster this development:

“The program of advanced French language teaching has been implemented since 2012 and includes 10 general education schools. In terms of the expansion of the program, advanced French language teaching will be organized in 6 more general education institutions and in one gymnasium starting from 2021-2022 academic year. The peculiarity of the advanced French language teaching program is that it is implemented in education institutions of Yerevan, Gyumri, Ijevan, Hrazdan, Goris, Yeghegnadzor, Spitak, Vanadzor and Etchmiadzin. This indicates that the interest in the French language is also increasing in the regions of the Republic of Armenia,” noted the Minister and expressed confidence that the program of advanced French language teaching in the secondary schools of Armenia will best contribute to the dissemination of the French language in Armenia and enhance the quality and efficiency of teaching in schools.

Regarding the peculiarities of French language teaching, V. Dumanyan expressed hope that in the medium and long term perspectives the new program initiatives will also be implemented aimed at the continuous development of the capabilities of French language teachers in general education schools in Armenia.

“I am confident that our cooperation will be long-standing and efficient for the benefit of the development of our two countries, and the partnership agreement signed today will also become the basis for the implementation of new joint programs,” concluded the RA ESCS Minister and expressed gratitude to the Embassy of the Republic of France in the Republic of Armenia in the face of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Jonathan Lacote.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia Jonathan Lacote expressed gratitude to the ESCS Ministry in the face of Minister Vahram Dumanyan for the initiative to sign the agreement and underlined that this document will mark the expansion of the program of advanced French studies.

“This is an expansion not only in quantitative, but also in qualitative terms, since for the first time high schools will also join the program. For those students who have learned French at school, the program will provide an opportunity to continue their French studies in high school. High school №148 will enable the students of 4 schools in this community to continue their French studies in high school," emphasized the Ambassador, adding with joy that schools outside the capital have also joined this program. The Ambassador informed that he visited schools with advanced French language teaching, where he had a meeting with motivated teachers and students.

Introducing the scope of cooperation deriving from the Memorandum, Jonathan Lacote emphasized that schools with advanced French language studies can establish networks with schools in France or Francophone countries, organize exchanges, etc.

“Armenia is a member of the International Organization of La Francophonie, has recently hosted the Francophonie Summit, and the program of advanced French language studies can become a testament to Armenia's commitment to Francophonie,” said Ambassador Lacote, reaffirming the specifics of the Armenian-French relations and highlighting the importance of learning each other's languages in the scope of these relations.

As stated in the agreement, the schools implementing an advanced French language program will be supplemented with educational materials, the teachers will be trained. Starting from 2021-2022 academic year, four schools will open grades 2 – 9, and three high schools will open grades 10 - 12 with advanced French language studies.