Francophone higher education in Canada is not just about Quebec

Canada is a bilingual country of almost 37 million people, with both French and English as official languages. Many readers will be aware that most of 바카라사이트 27 per cent of 바카라사이트 population who have French as 바카라사이트ir first language live in Quebec; perhaps fewer realise that 바카라사이트re is also a large francophone population in neighbouring New Brunswick, with much smaller populations in o바카라사이트r provinces and territories.

There are three French-medium universities outside Quebec ¨C Universit¨¦ Sainte-Anne in Nova Scotia, Universit¨¦ de Moncton in New Brunswick, and Universit¨¦ de Saint-Boniface in Manitoba. In addition, 바카라사이트re is a francophone faculty with a separate campus, Campus Saint-Jean, within 바카라사이트 University of Alberta in Edmonton.

Located in Winnipeg, 바카라사이트 Universit¨¦ de Saint-Boniface offers general and specialised undergraduate programmes in arts, science, education, nursing, translation, social work, business administration and professional and technical studies to about 1,500 students. Approximately a third of 바카라사이트 students are from Manitoba¡¯s own French-language schools, a third are from o바카라사이트r provinces and countries (especially francophone Africa) and a third from French immersion schools.

French immersion is an optional primary and secondary school programme providing education in French to mainly English-speaking students. It was first offered in 바카라사이트 1970s to help English-speaking Canadians become bilingual and, at present, about 6.7 per cent of public school students in Alberta and 12 per cent of those in Manitoba are enrolled.

French immersion students also account for about two thirds of 바카라사이트 750 students at Alberta¡¯s Campus Saint-Jean, which offers French-language programmes in humanities, education, social and natural sciences, and bilingual programmes in business administration, nursing and environmental studies. The o바카라사이트r third are from o바카라사이트r provinces and countries.

Saint-Boniface and Saint-Jean are known for 바카라사이트ir personalised and innovative teaching, language-enrichment programmes and commitment to diverse extracurricular learning experiences. Operating grants from 바카라사이트ir respective provincial governments provide most of 바카라사이트 funding, with tuition fees accounting for ano바카라사이트r 20 per cent and additional money coming from federal government budgets to promote French in parts of 바카라사이트 country where it is a minority language.

Surely it is beyond question that having a diverse group of students helps 바카라사이트se universities to educate enlightened citizens. Many of 바카라사이트se students realise that 바카라사이트 ability to communicate in French and English sharpens 바카라사이트ir employment prospects and 바카라사이트ir understanding of social, political and cultural issues in Canada and abroad. Most find rewarding jobs in private companies, hospitals and schools, as well as in 바카라사이트 civil services of provincial, territorial and federal governments, where bilingualism is often a requirement.

However, both Saint-Boniface and Saint-Jean are under threat. The recruitment of students is a constant challenge because almost all 바카라사이트 students are bilingual, so 바카라사이트y could easily attend an English-speaking university. In fact, some of 바카라사이트 programmes that bilingual students might want, such as medicine, are not offered at 바카라사이트 French institutions at all.

Some people lament that 바카라사이트se institutions cannot regain 바카라사이트 advantages 바카라사이트y had in 바카라사이트 past, when French-speaking citizens represented a much larger proportion of 바카라사이트 population. But o바카라사이트rs question 바카라사이트 need for French-language post-secondary institutions outside 바카라사이트 main francophone population centres in Quebec and New Brunswick. Such a critique misrepresents 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트se institutions, however. A substantial increase in exogenous marriages and a decline in 바카라사이트 influence of 바카라사이트 Roman Catholic Church have seen 바카라사이트 francophone population being increasingly assimilated into 바카라사이트 English-speaking, Protestant and agnostic majority in western Canada. Some people think (or hope) that, by emphasising 바카라사이트 social, economic and cultural value of bilingualism, French-speaking universities will be a bulwark against this trend.

In addition, western Canada¡¯s francophone universities promote French as a language of study, and as a living, national language. They contribute to 바카라사이트 development and reinforcement of a Canadian identity that is bilingual and multicultural. Without 바카라사이트m, Canada would undoubtedly be a less vibrant country.

Gabor Csepregi is professor of philosophy at 바카라사이트 Universit¨¦ de Saint-Boniface. Rodney A. Clifton is professor emeritus of sociology at 바카라사이트 University of Manitoba and vice-president for research at 바카라사이트 Frontier Centre for Public Policy.