This text is part of the special Francophonie booklet
“Together for equal opportunities”: it is under this theme that the 31and edition of La Dictée PGL More than just a contest, La Dictée pursues its mission of educating young people in citizenship, while allowing meetings with other young Francophones from all over the world.
“Our slogan, for La Dictée PGL and for the Paul Gérin-Lajoie Foundation in general, is quality education for all. It’s our DNA,” explains Nagui Rabbat, director of La Dictée PGL. Each year, a promising theme linked to the UN’s sustainable development objectives is chosen for La Dictée.
If last year the theme was focused on the environment, the one chosen for this edition is also very topical, with the events in Ukraine and the displacement of populations that we follow live on our screens. The 2021-2022 edition of La Dictée takes place under the theme “Together for equal opportunities”, a theme that touches on international cooperation, and its role in making quality education accessible to all.
In addition to promoting mastery of the French language as a tool for reflection that forges our identity, La Dictée PGL aims to provoke an openness to the world, and wants to participate in the education of students in citizenship. “We want to make young people aware of what is happening elsewhere in the world, in order to form engaged and responsible citizens. Our mission is also to enrich their general culture and to support living together, solidarity and sharing”, summarizes the director.
More than a competition
Because beyond the competition, La Dictée PGL is also an educational program. “La Dictée PGL is a truly unique project,” said Mr. Rabbat. Participating schools have access to educational tools and classroom activities adapted to each level, from kindergarten to junior high school. These activities are linked to the theme: “We give concrete examples; for example, we discuss how education can be accessible in areas where there are immigration or refugee problems, so that students understand that access to education is not the same as here , for girls in particular,” says Mr. Rabbat.
The subjects are approached differently according to the age of the pupils, and are modulated in adequacy with the school program. “We harmonize the activities with the program of the Ministry of Education, taking into account cross-curricular skills, but also subject-specific skills such as language. [choix de mot de vocabulaire, difficulté des textes, etc.] “, points out Mr. Rabbat. “The goal is for the teacher to easily integrate the project, so that it can be added to what young people do at school, as a discovery rather than as a compulsory task”, he adds.
Since the pandemic, La Dictée PGL has also set up a digital component, so that parents can do activities with their young people.
Take action
In the educational activities, the pupils are, for example, led to read a situational text which includes elements of reflection, and to propose elements of action. The theme makes it possible to awaken young people to the importance of international cooperation and the involvement of all to give equal access to quality education.
Because beyond raising awareness and acquiring new knowledge, La Dictée PGL wants to encourage action. The sponsored dictation also allows students to raise funds, part of which is donated to the student’s school, and the other to the Foundation, to support educational projects in developing countries.
Promote meetings
At the end of the year, the La Dictée PGL competition crowns the process. “There is a kind of emulation that takes place, with finals in schools, regions, then the grand international final,” believes the director.
First thought to weave bonds of solidarity between the students of Canada, Africa and Haiti, the contest takes place today in the four corners of the Francophonie. Since 1991, more than 7 million students have taken part in La Dictée.
Schools everywhere are encouraged to correspond with each other, and the grand finale, back in attendance after two years of pandemic, is an opportunity to bring young people together in a festive atmosphere. “We encourage young people to open up to the world, to understand that there are other countries that speak French, and to be aware of what is happening in the world,” concludes Mr. Rabbat.