According to a group that advocates for French-language learning in the province, French immersion enrolment in New Westminster is on the rise.
Enrolment hit nearly 1,000 students in the 2017/18 school year, according to Canadian Parents for French BC and Yukon (CPF BC and Yukon).
“French immersion is a well-established and highly regarded program,” said Diane Tijman, president of Canadian Parents for French BC and Yukon, in a press release.
“Designed to help students become functionally bilingual by the time they graduate, the program’s effects are very real, empowering young people and opening doors in so many different ways.”
In New Westminster, French immersion students accounted for 12 per cent of the total student body. This is above average when compared to enrolment across the province, which saw about nine per cent of students across B.C. enrolled in French immersion in 2017/18, according to CPF BC and Yukon.
The New Westminster school district has offered early French immersion since 2003. French immersion is available at École Qayqayt, École Lord Tweedsmuir and École Herbert Spencer elementary schools, École Glenbrook Middle School and École New Westminster Secondary School.
