French classes no longer mandatory in Calgary schools

CALGARY – The Calgary Board of Education is making changes to its second language programming.

Beginning this fall, French classes will no longer be mandatory for Grades four through nine.

Calgary students have been required to take French classes since 2006.

School officials say they are making the change to give extra flexibility to parents.

“In all Calgary Board schools, grades seven to nine, there will be secondary language options for parents and students to choose from,” says Cathy Faber, CBE Superintendent.

“In grades four to six, those choices will be made by the school and parent community.”

Junior High students will be offered classes in at least one of four languages; French, Spanish, Chinese or German, based on consultation between staff, parents and students.

For elementary school children, individual schools will now decide whether French or any other language will be offered.

The policy change is creating concerns for teachers facing layoffs in the public system.

The Teacher’s Association says it’s caught off guard by the decision and is still trying to determine the implications.

The CBE denies the decision has anything to do with its budget issues and rather focuses of giving students and parents more choices.