Seydou Revives Bilingualism
It is an undeniable fact that in West Africa, more countries speak French. However, the French language seems to be dying out in Sierra Leone.
Most Schools in our country no longer offer French as a subject as French teachers have become very scarce nowadays, most of our school pupils have lost interest in French as evident in the sad fact that very few of them opt to read French even where the teachers are available.
Concerned academics have viewed this ugly development as a serious educational set back worsened by the folding up of French learning institutions like Alliance Francais and the French Pedagogical Centre in Freetown and Bo respectively.
Now a very patriotic and trilingual Sierra Leonean, Monsieur Fortune has begun reviving the French language by establishing a bilingual (English – French) pre-school and primary school in Kenema, Eastern Sierra Leone. The school is called, Seydou International Bilingual School named after a parent school in Guinea from where Monsieur Fortune imported the idea to Sierra Leone.
Pupils in the school start reading French from Kindergarten level right through Primary school and Monsieur Fortune is now hand at work trying to extend the school level. But the most interesting aspect of this school is the high premium placed on the moral upbringing of the kids.
The school administration emphasizes on educating the children on the importance of honesty, respect for elders and other forms of morality. Kids are taught to respect especially their parents and are encouraged to refrain from stealing from their colleagues. The pupils have now acculturated the good habit of returning to the administration any found property of cash to be returned to the rightful owner.
Parents interviewed by this medium expressed satisfaction over the academic and moral development of their children. Since they started attending the school, “Education without morality of the parents,” Brima Sandi said.
The Seydou Bilingual School therefore deserves attention and revives the French language and trying to enhance a morality oriented type of education.
By Joseph Milton Lebbie
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2012, https:. All rights reserved.
