France has introduced the Equip French Fund (EFF), a €288,450 (Shs1 billion) project aimed at enhancing French language teaching in Uganda’s secondary schools.
The initiative, launched at the Alliance Française de Kampala (AFK), was developed by the French Embassy in Uganda. Over the next two years, the project will be implemented in collaboration with AFK and the Association of Professors of French in Uganda, focusing on innovative teaching methodologies and support for French education.
At the launch, French Ambassador to Uganda, Xavier Sticker, highlighted the project’s significance in not only improving French language education in Uganda but also fostering stronger ties between the two countries.
“This program will enrich the experiences of both students and teachers, promoting interaction and building lasting friendships between our nations,” Ambassador Sticker remarked. He praised the French government’s support for the initiative and reiterated their commitment to advancing Uganda’s educational sector.
Eric Touzé, director of AFK, detailed the project’s goals, which include enhancing teaching practices and teacher training. The AFK will focus on three key areas: training secondary school teachers in modern pedagogical methods, preparing French teachers at the Alliance Française de Kampala under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and addressing gender issues and inclusivity.
Touzé noted, “We will send teams to the provinces to organize and monitor the program’s progress. Additionally, we will produce podcasts and videos to track the state of French education across Uganda during the project’s duration.”
He added that the teachers trained through this initiative will become trainers themselves, further extending the project’s impact.
The Association of Professors of French in Uganda will contribute by organizing training sessions and Francophile fun camps for students in five regions (West Nile, North, Central, West, and East). The association will also develop audiovisual teaching resources tailored to the needs of French teachers and learners in Uganda.
The launch event was attended by numerous French teachers from various regions of Uganda, alongside other dignitaries.
