MoE stops French classes at intermediate level in schools

Subject treated as ‘optional’, taught once a week

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 28: The Ministry of Education has stopped teaching French at the intermediate level two years after its introduction following which all French teachers have been transferred to the secondary stage, reports Al-Qabas daily.

According to sources close to the issue the idea of teaching French at intermediate level was not studied properly and for that reason the ministry decided to do away with it two years after running it on experimental basis.

Some sources explained one of the reasons that led to its failure was because the subject was treated as ‘optional’ and was taught just once a week during one period.

The sources added, if the subject was made compulsory for all students, they would benefit from it, but the students were not aware of its importance.

The sources said the teaching of the French is above the level of mentality of the intermediate students, especially since they are learning another foreign language, English.

This is in addition to the mother tongue Arabic in which they are weak and it was essential to strengthen them in Arabic instead of posing burden of other languages.

It is noteworthy to mention that French at the intermediate stage was introduced by the former Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Dr Badr Al-Issa in two schools in each educational zone to be applied to all schools after evaluation.