By Cheryl Jahn

French Immersion enrolment numbers declining

Aug 28, 2024 | 3:25 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – There are four French Immersion schools in School District 57. According to Canadian Parents for French the program has been hugely successful, with more than 17-thousand students enrolled in BC in the last twenty years. However …

“Having said that, we see the start of a trend provincially when it comes to French immersion. And it, really, started during right at the start of the pandemic. After years and years and years of growth, we’re just starting to see a small decrease. But it’s been consistent now for four years,” says Jason Howe, Executive Director of Canadian Parents for French.

French Immersion

School incident

Teacher injured following incident involving student

4h ago

Spruce Kings

Spruce Kings optimistic ahead of preseason home opener

5h ago

"Odd couple for sure" Bond and Dix jointly announce new program

5h ago

District 57:

• 0.45% decrease in FI students compared to the previous year

• 3.38% decrease in FI students compared to five years ago

• Total student enrolment up 0.55% compared to previous year

• Total student enrolment up 1.84% compared to five years ago

• 8.25% of total students are in FI. 8.69% of total students were in FI five years ago.

“Provincially and really nationally, that teacher, French language teacher shortage is a big issue. And so we’re thinking of wanting to expand the program. That means having to find and hire new teachers who have the skills to teach in French immersion,” says Howe.

District 57’s enrolment numbers for French Immersion are pretty much an par with the provincial enrolment numbers.