France on Wednesday disbursed a 750,000 Euros grant, equivalent to 300 million ouguiya, to help Mauritania expedite a project meant to boost the teaching of the French language in Mauritania.
The project which will span the period 2012 to 2016 comprises three components, namely support to the development of local French expertise, by stimulating the competences of higher education teachers, support to the teaching of the French language in schools and the enhancement and use of the French language in public administration.
An agreement to that effect was signed by the Mauritanian Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, Sidi Ould Tah, and the French ambassador in Nouakchott, Herve Besancenot.
Signing the agreement, Mr. Ould Tah said this overture was indicative of what he called the excellent Franco-Mauritanian relations, and laid emphasis on the fact that the project will allow 500 government officials to improve their knowledge of the French language.
Speaking at the ceremony, the French envoy said that the enhancement of the teaching of French in the country will be three-fold in so far as it contributes to the building of national cohesion between the different ethnic groups representing Mauritania’s rich cultural diversity, facilitate regional integration and economic and industrial development in a region dominated by Francophone countries.
In that regard, he said it was critical to improve public education through the improvement of the teaching of French and Arabic, the main languages spoken in the country.
In addition to the allocation, a French technical expert will be assigned the task of piloting the project.
Source African Press Agency
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