At the crossroads between French-speaking and English-speaking Africa, Rwanda is embarking on a new strategy to promote the learning of French in the country. After abandoning French as a language of instruction in 2008 in favor of English, the land of a thousand hills has recently reconnected with the language of Molière, driven by a warming in diplomatic relations with France.
The Rwandan government, aware of the importance of mastering French for economic development and the diversification of opportunities, launched a national plan for the development of French learning in April 2022. This plan aims to strengthen the language skills of French teachers through level tests and adapted training.
With this in mind, the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF) deployed around fifty volunteers in schools across the country. These teachers specializing in French as a foreign language are responsible for sharing their teaching methods with their Rwandan counterparts, in order to help them better adapt their lessons to the needs of students.
Indeed, one of the major challenges of learning French in Rwanda is the lack of solid foundations among students. Many students arrive at secondary level with serious deficiencies in French, due to insufficient teaching during their transition to primary school. Some teachers themselves lack language skills, which makes teaching even more difficult.
However, this new orientation in favor of French seems to be met with real enthusiasm among the Rwandan population. The announcement of this development plan for learning French was received positively, both by teachers and by students and their parents. The Rwandan government wants this language to be spoken by most of the country’s children, and thus contribute to economic and cultural development.
This renewal of interest in French in Rwanda is also part of a broader context of diplomatic rapprochement with France. The visit of French President Emmanuel Macron in 2021 marked a new era in relations between the two countries, with official recognition of France’s responsibility in the genocide against the Tutsis in 1994. This improvement in relations notably enabled the opening of a French-speaking cultural center in Kigali, as well as the appointment of a new French ambassador to Rwanda.
Rwanda, by striving to strengthen the learning of French, is betting on diversifying its horizons and positioning itself as a key player in the region.. By developing the linguistic skills of its population, the country aspires to promote economic, cultural and diplomatic exchanges with French-speaking countries, while maintaining its openness to the English-speaking world.
Thus, far from wanting to forget its French-speaking heritage, Rwanda is looking to the future by investing in learning French. This new strategy demonstrates strong political will and should enable future generations to benefit from new opportunities and broaden their horizons. Let us hope that this initiative will bear fruit and that Rwanda will be able to take full advantage of its unique positioning between French-speaking and English-speaking cultures.