Halifax resident Jonathan Langdon is facing a familiar dilemma with his son now in Grade 9 at École Mer et Monde. Similar to his daughter’s situation three years ago, Langdon’s son may have to commute daily to École secondaire Mosaïque in Burnside, N.S., for a continued French education in high school. Concerned about the lengthy bus ride and traffic congestion, Langdon is weighing his options.
The shortage of francophone schools in Nova Scotia, as highlighted by Michel Collette, the head of the province’s francophone school board, poses a challenge for students seeking French education. Some students face long commutes of hundreds of kilometers daily to reach the nearest French school. In Halifax, the absence of a French high school on the peninsula adds to the issue, limiting accessibility to French education for local students.
Currently, the closest French high schools to Halifax are Mosaïque and École secondaire du Sommet in Bedford, N.S. However, a new French school under construction in Halifax will only accommodate up to Grade 9, replacing École Mer et Monde. The Education Department mentioned a potential renovation of Mer et Monde to offer high school programs, but no definite plans for a Conseil scolaire acadien provincial high school on the peninsula are in place yet.
Angela Day, a parent with children at Mer et Monde, emphasizes the importance of French education for her family. Considering factors like commute times and future educational paths, Day advocates for a French high school in peninsular Halifax to support the growing demand for French-language education in the region.
With the community’s increasing population and enrollment in the CSAP system, stakeholders like Day stress the need for accessible French high school options in Halifax. Prioritizing infrastructure and educational facilities, including French high schools, contributes to creating inclusive and sustainable communities, according to Day’s perspective.
