The province is moving to protect French Immersion entry points.
Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Claire Johnson introduced amendments to the Education Act at yesterday’s legislature session that, if passed, would put the French immersion pathway and entry points into legislation.
According to a press release, the proposed changes would also formally define the French immersion program and allow school superintendents to admit students outside of the traditional Grade 1 and Grade 6 entry points.
“Students and families need stability and predictability in our education system,” said Minister Johnson in the release. “By including French immersion entry points in legislation, families, students and educators can rest assured any future changes will require legislative consideration and scrutiny by the whole legislative assembly.”
The legislation follows years of changes and uncertainty surrounding the French immersion program. Much of the debate has focused on the program’s entry points, which shifted from Grade 1 to Grade 3 in 2008 before returning to Grade 1 in 2017. The program also faced several proposed reforms between 2022 and 2023.
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Under the Progressive Conservative government of Blaine Higgs, a plan to replace French immersion with a universal half-day French model for students from kindergarten to Grade 5 was ultimately abandoned following significant public opposition.
Jane Keith, president of Parents for Bilingual Education New Brunswick, said in the release the organization is “absolutely thrilled” to see French immersion receive legislative protections.
“We brought forward the importance of protecting French immersion to the minister and the department of education, and we are incredibly grateful that they listened,” she wrote. “For decades, parents, educators, and communities across New Brunswick have worked tirelessly to build and strengthen this program because they believe in the incredible opportunities bilingualism provides our children.”
“Protecting French immersion in legislation means families can have confidence that this pathway will be there for their children today, tomorrow and for generations to come.”
The bill has passed first reading and now moves to second and third reading.
