Education: OSCCO French Club Holds Maiden Edition Of Francophone, Quiz Competition In Osogbo
…Calls on government to support the language and employ french teachers…
By Sola Aderinto,
Our Lady of St Francis Catholic College, popularly called OSCCO, in collaboration with Radio French International organized its French club maiden edition of Francophone, and Quiz Competition in Osun state.
At the RFI day, which held at the premises of OSCCO college, other schools such as: Phoebe Star, Osogbo Grammar School, St. Kizito Catholic College, Salvation Army School, Seven Day Adventist School, Hilltop school, Command Army School, Alhasan Islamic Model, Sacred Heart School and Johnmankay School participated in the French quiz.
In his speech titled, ‘The Place Of Bilingual, French As A Panacea, Mr Afolabi Oladayo stated that bilingualism, which is understanding and speaking more than one language, a gift God blessed people with in diverse languages.
He added that Francophone day is set aside to enhance the development of French speaking around the world, particularly with growing children, emphasising that when the children are taught to speak French from tender age, it grows with them and open them to international connection.
He urged parents to allow their children to learn and speak French and other languages, that they should not limit them to a language.
According to him, as much as we speak and celebrate other languages, we are also speaking and celebrating french language.
*We are mandated to be bilingual internationally, and having choosed French language, we must be committed to its promotion, culturally, while it aid development of our society.”
In an interview with the press, the French teacher of Our Lady of St Francis Catholic College, Mr John Bolatito said the Francophone Day is a French speaking country global celebration, to celebrate La-franconise.
He stated that French is an exciting language in the hearing of the students, and we have put up strategies to keep them continually interested in speaking the language.
Bolatito affirmed that one doesn’t have to be a genius to speak the language, and he also added that the Nigeria Association of French Teachers NAFT at the federal and state level is the body regulating and promoting french in Osun state in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education.
He said, “with the state of education in Osun state, we need the intervention of the government, and we look forward to the present administration employing French Teachers in the ongoing teaching service recruitment.”
Osun has Francophone speaking people, and this must be supported in all ramification, Bolatito stated.
Also speaking, the Head of Department on Languages, Mrs Oluwafunmilayo Salami stated that the school offers several language to the students, and learning a language is an advantage, while adding that the reaction of the students in learning French is amazing.
After the interesting program which was conversed in French language, Sangolade Stephen emerged as the overall winner in French speaking and was awarded Ambassador of French speaking in Oṣun state.
Student representatives of Seven Days Adventist School, osogbo and Alhasan Islamic school and St Kizito Catholic College emerged as first, second and third runners up consecutively.