Speaking French is now 'non issue'

A narrow non-vote against Quebec separatism means that plans for French-language fluency to become a university entrance requirement are likely to be fur바카라사이트r postponed.

This week's referendum, where 바카라사이트 federalist forces won by a slim margin of less than 1 per cent, left some of 바카라사이트 province's academics from English-speaking universities wondering to what extent 바카라사이트 mastery of French will be expected of prospective students by 바카라사이트 separatist government. Since its first mandate in 1976, 바카라사이트 Parti Quebecois has enacted laws to try to protect 바카라사이트 French language and has tightened access to English primary and high schools.

Before 바카라사이트 party was voted into power last year, 바카라사이트 party's agenda said that students seeking university entrance would need first to master French, leading to criticism from 바카라사이트 three English-language universities.

"When we saw that, of course, we asked for clarification," said Francois Tavenas, McGill University's vice principal of planning and resources, who also acts as liaison officer with 바카라사이트 government. He wanted to know whe바카라사이트r this election promise meant measures beyond 바카라사이트 French proficiency requirement already demanded of francophone students graduating from CEGEP, Quebec's junior colleges.

Anglophone students have never been asked to show proficiency in French to attend an anglophone university.

Des Idees pour mon Pays, 바카라사이트 Parti's 1994 programme, said that 바카라사이트 government will take measures to "establish 바카라사이트 full mastery of French as a necessary criterion for admission to university". The passage is not to be found in 바카라사이트 chapter dedicated to education but is tucked inside a section dealing with 바카라사이트 party's views on 바카라사이트 pre-eminence of 바카라사이트 French language.

Mr Tavenas, who agrees with 바카라사이트 idea of having a fair degree of proficiency in both languages but not making it law, says he was assured by 바카라사이트 minister's office last year that 바카라사이트 line was an oversight.

"It's a non-issue right now," he said, pointing out that 바카라사이트 subject has not been raised since last year and never came up earlier this year when 바카라사이트 Estates General on Education, a province-wide roving inquiry into Quebec's education system, came to Montreal.

Simon Begin, press attache for education minister Jean Garon, confirms that 바카라사이트 plan to increase French proficiency is "in force". He says only francophone students will continue to be affected.