According to the Task
Force Report data, there
are approximately 19,000
school age children in the
province entitled to edu-
cation in French as a first
language. The Task Force
estimated that the enrol-
ment could potentially
reach something in the
neighborhood 6, 000 pu-
pils afew years after im-
plementation.

HOW MUCH WILL BE
THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF FRANCOPHONE GOVERNANCE COST?

The cost over a period of six years is estimated at approximately $35
million. These funds will be provided under a federal-provincial cost-
sharing agreement. Once the Francophone School Board in place,
annual operational funding will be provided by Ministry of Education,
as is the case for all school districts. In 1991, the Task Force estimated
operational costs of the Francophone School Board at approximately $
8,214 per pupil. Allocation of funds by the Ministry takes into account
anumber of factors such as enrolment, remoteness and dispersion index.
Taking these factors into account,the per pupil amount could vary
significantly from one school district to another. The estimated opera-
tional cost per pupil, represents an average between the allocated
amount for each pupil to school districts similar in size to the francophone
school board, such as Golden and Stikine Districts which received
respectively $ 6,000 and $ 12,000 per pupil when the Task Force Report
was released.

WHAT ABOUT TEACHERS?

Like any other school board, the francophone school board will give
every consideration to teachers who contributed to the quality of
education in Programme cadre de frangais and will provide a just and fair
transition. It will do all in its power to retain the teaching personnel by
providing benefits comparable to what they already have by taking into
consideration seniority and offering terms of employment which will
maintain their acquired benefits. Secondment is an option which could
be beneficial to maintain a certain stability among teaching personnel
and provide for a smooth transition.

WHAT ARE THE REMEDIES TO THE SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENT
DROP OUT RATE?

Given that the Programme cadre at the secondary level leaves much to
be desire, the Ministry of Education makes a concentrated effort to
improve the situation. In collaboration with a team of Programme cadre

SPECIAL. EDITION FRANCOPHONE SCHOOL GOVERNANCE jung 1993

teachers , the secondary level curricula such as math, humanities,
chemistry, physics, etc., are in the process of being developed and
upgraded. Considering the relatively low enrolment in these grades, the
remoteness and the dispersion index, it will be necessary to devise
original solutions to encourage students to stay with the program.
Distance teaching, offers interesting possibilities because of the inter-
action between the teacher and the student through an audio-visual
communication channel. Another attractive option woulb be the crea-
tion of regional secondary schools, by which social interaction would
be enhanced.

Other questions will come up during the implementation process.The
Transitional School Board might therefore have to revise its plans, just
as an architect would adapt his to changing circumstances during
construction. For example, he had planned two bedrooms, but at the
request of the client, whose wife is now pregnant, he must add a third
one.

SEPTEMBER 1995

The workers have now driven in the last nail. The Transitional School
Board and the French Governance Advisory Council have completed
their task. The moment has come to hand over the keys to the first
Francophone School Board along with full responsibility for education
in French as a first language. The time has come to open the doors for
the dream to come true: SCHOOLS WE CAN CALL OUR OWN.

This special edition is funded in part by the Ministry of Education and Ministry
Responsible for Multiculturalism and Human Rights of British Columbia and the
Department of the Secretary of State.

Special thank to Patrick Fillion for the illustrations