Uganda is host to this year’s Congress of Teachers of French in Africa and Indian Ocean and beyond happening at Makerere Business School (MUBS).
Running under the theme: French Language as a driver to sustainable development in the digital age, the on-going conference is in attendance of hundreds of French teachers from over 30 African countries and beyond as they gather to discuss workable ideas that aid development of the French language beyond just a communication tool but as a business enabler not only in the Francophone countries but also in Anglophone ones as it has become a widely spoken language with over 350 million speakers worldwide, and 79.9 million mother tongue speakers .
Spoken across 29 countries in the world, French language has just ceased to be a language for just fun but rather a vital communication tool, for business all over the world.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Agatha Tumwine, the Congress Convener who also doubles as the President of French Teachers in Africa and Indian Ocean stated the uniqueness brought about by the event which among others includes presenting an opportunity to improve technology which eventually elevates the way people do business.
“This event is a testament of a unique opportunity that French language and technology can play in developing different economies and as well as enhanced flow of communication and we are delighted to have it in Uganda which has never been the case before.”
Dr. Agatha added that, “Digital technology is transforming the way of leveraging French language and other languages which has eased the way of learning and doing business in the world.”
Reflecting on the 10th Congress held in Dakar, Senegal, held under the theme: To innovate to serve better, the conference according to organizers, saw most of the action points discussed, put into use and this year’s is only a continuation of the previous one.
While addressing the guests the deputy French Ambassador to Uganda, representing the French Ambassador to Uganda H.E Xavier Sticker, explained the need for such conferences which aid in addressing challenges poised to development, unity and transformation of in and beyond Francophone economies.
“French is nowadays seen as a leading communications tool hence a great contributor to unity, peace and co-existence of different groups for example in Uganda, the refugees and the different communities they live in. Uganda is blessed to host such a noble event and it will only go in its history having hosted it.”
The event is anticipated to cover topics including; the Kenya Education System: How the education ministry and universities responded to the COVID-19 challenges and the lessons learnt by teachers from the University of Nairobi, Teaching French differently with new forms of expression for young people, French within Tanzania amid multilingualism: Challenges and prospects and Digital Citizenship in inter-connected world, emerging countries and new balance of power among others.
