French Minister of State visits Le Hong Phong High School in HCMC

French Minister of State for Development and Francophonie Mr. André Vallini who accompanied with the French President in a three day visit to Vietnam yesterday visited Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted in Ho Chi Minh City.

The visit aims to boost the special friendly and educational cooperative relations between the two countries, especially to maintain teaching and studying French language in Vietnam’s schools under the declaration on teaching French language and in French language between the French and Vietnamese governments which was signed in Hanoi on September 5.

Principle of Le Hong Phong High School Mrs. Nguyen Thi Yen Trinh said that the high school desires the French government will continue supporting French language teaching in city’s colleges.

The principle also suggested the French to support the innovation of educational documents, training programs for teachers as well as French language lovers in Vietnam.

Mr. André Vallini said that Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted is one of the best-known and the oldest high schools in Ho Chi Minh City.

There are many students choosing French as the second language after English to study. Therefore, he also hoped that the school reconstruction following French architecture style will be implemented as soon as possible.

The French minister also wanted to strengthen French language teaching and learning in Vietnamese  colleges.

Beside English, studying French will bring you more chances in the international job market and in learning different cultures, the minister added.

The French minister and the delegation also visited 12th graders who are studying bilingual program at the school.

Vietnam began the bilingual curriculum in 1991 and Ho Chi Minh City started the curriculum in 1994. The bilingual program has been running in 90 schools nationwide with 13, 000 students and 300 teachers.