19 Jun 2014

Ambassador Anne de la Blache of France says although her country and Botswana have no common history, they have a common future.

Ms de la Blache said this when signing a financial agreement with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) permanent secretary, Mr Richard Matlhare recently.

This came after a memorandum of understanding that was signed by the French and the Botswana government in support of the teaching, learning and training of teachers of French as foreign or second language in Botswana.

Ambassador de la Blache said Botswana and France had a cordial relationship, adding that she was keen on working in the field of education because it meant working for the next generation to know and understand each other better.

She said the signing of the financial agreement would pave way for the training of trainers, adding that French was a worldwide language of diplomacy and international relations. 

 “It is one of the main working languages within most international organisations which can open new possibilities for jobs and other opportunities for Batswana,” she said.

Mr Matlhare said that French was an important language for business, noting that the promotion of the French language in the country would provide Botswana with enhanced opportunities for international development. 

He said Botswana must invest in French as a language for international relations, a language of trade and as a language of communication.

So far 37 teachers have been trained between 2006 and now, bringing a total of 105 teachers of French nationwide. 

An addition batch of 14 teachers would be divided in groups of seven and start training in July and November respectively. ENDS