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Tanzania teachers to benefit from French training program
2008-03-27 09:04:58
By Hannah Mwandoloma
French Language teachers in Tanzania will soon benefit from a three-year training programme in a financial agreement that the French Embassy here is scheduled to sign with the government.
Speaking at a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday French Embassy`s Counselor of Cooperation and Development, Patrick Thomas, said that the programme had been designed by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, University of Dar es Salaam and the Open University of Tanzania.
Thomas said that the International Organisation of Francophonie (IOF) had set political and economic as well as cultural objectives, adding that among its misssions defined by its member states was to promote French language and cultural diversity.
``Our organization`s missions include promoting French language, linguistic and cultural diversity; promote peace, democracy and human rights. In addition to that we support educational training and research including, sustainable development and solidarity,` said Thomas.
He said Tanzania was highly involved in promoting cultural diversity while enjoying the support of development partners, something that he said led to the recent establishment of Sector Working Group devoted to culture with them.
Thomas lauded Tanzania for ever its increasing number of students at all levels and professions learning French, saying the interest of language could only be encouraged in a country which has several French-speaking neighbours and which endeavour to develop its tourism industry.
``This interest is growing through the commitment shown by Tanzania to participate in African economic and political integration, especially at times when President Kikwete is chairing the African Union,`` said counselor Thomas.
However, Thomas said the fact that Burundi and Rwanda, which are IOF members, have joined the East African Community, French language was becoming more vital to Tanzanians.
IOF, the first organisation of those who share the French language, today marks the International Day of Francophonie in Tanzania and the theme for this year is `La Francophonie au Coeur' meaning Francophonie at heart.
According to Thomas, French is one of leading languages of 200 million people in the world, many of whom are in Africa, and it is learnt by 90 million others.
It is also the official first or second language of 29 countries in the world.
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