We are coming to the end of a school year that once again experienced logistical challenges caused by the pandemic. But, pandemic or not, a learning problem has persisted year after year for decades among young students: mastery of the French language.
The latest data tells us that more than 40% of students fail spelling at the end of high school in Quebec. It’s huge. Can we do better?
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Last fall, the government set up a working group to improve the written French skills of CEGEP and university students. The Paul Gérin-Lajoie Foundation welcomes this initiative and can only hope that the measures that will be implemented will help not only young Quebecers to do better, but also adults of all ages to master and value this language that sets us apart in North America.
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The Paul Gérin-Lajoie Foundation has been carrying out projects in the education sector both in Canada and in other countries for 45 years now. The legacy left by Mr. Paul Gérin-Lajoie is great. This man, who created the first Ministry of Education in Quebec, defended with conviction the promotion of the French language and we must pursue his mission.
Protecting and promoting the French language requires not only good educational tools in the school system, but also the sharing of the richness and dynamism of this language in all areas and spheres of activity. Let’s give young people the tools they need to express themselves, create and discuss topics that fascinate them. This statement is just as valid for the adults of our society.
A unique project
Among the legacy bequeathed by Mr. Gérin-Lajoie, La Dictée PGL is a unique project that stimulates young people’s interest in French.
This Sunday, May 22, the international Grand Final will take place. This final will take place at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM). It will welcome nearly 80 finalists from Quebec, Canada, the United States, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Morocco. La Dictée PGL has dealt with many themes over the 30 years of its existence. Since its creation, it has reached more than 7.5 million young participants.
The launch of events such as La Dictée PGL de la Francophonie in the workplace encourages creative activities that must be put forward to promote the daily use of French among adults, not limited to an intellectual elite in French literature.
The Paul Gérin-Lajoie Foundation remains an example and a leader in this area and intends to expand its activities to promote the French language in several other sectors of socioeconomic life in Quebec, Canada and La Francophonie.
Olivier Bertin-Mahieux, CEO of the Paul Gérin-Lajoie Foundation