French as a Second Language: A Review of Programming and Services

The Government of New Brunswick's Charter for Change, with its overall focus on positioning the province for self-sufficiency, calls upon New Brunswick to have the best education system in the country. This challenge is embraced by the Minister of Education, Kelly Lamrock, in When kids come first, the Department of Education's new plan for public education.

A key action under When kids come first is a review of French Second Language programming and services.

"New Brunswick has an ambitious target of ensuring that 70 percent of all high school graduates are able to function effectively in speaking their second official language," says Lamrock. "We, however, are falling short of this goal and if we want to be leaders in education we need to examine how second langue instruction is being provided."

Dr. Jim Croll and Patricia Lee have agreed to serve as commissioners to lead the French Second Language programming and services review.

Their mandate is to engage students, parents, teachers, educators and identified stakeholders in an assessment of the current models of French Second Language instruction and to make recommendations designed to assist the Anglophone sector in developing French Second Language programs that will be in the best interests of all students.

The French Second Language Commission presented its final report to Education Minister Kelly Lamrock on February 18, 2008. The report, which contains 18 recommendations on improving the state of French second-language learning in New Brunswick, is available online.