Coinciding with that time of the year when parents home in options for their children’s education, Lycee Francais organised a walk-through its premises and programmes for non-French aspirants.
An ‘Open House’ session organised by Lycee Francais saw the participation of a large number of parents and students, particularly non-French speakers, who wanted to know everything related to adaptation to the French system of education.
Students asked a variety of questions that were related to admission for French baccalaureate, teaching methodology and curriculum, special advantages that students would have in this section, fee structure and difficulties adjusting in the Indian university system.
“Lycee Francais, the oldest French school in Asia, was so far confined to French citizens. The school is now opening its environment and we are the only French school in the country that can register Indian students. The idea is to open our doors which will give students in the city a window to global education,” said Aline Charles, principal.
The number of Indian students taking the Baccalaureate (final exam equivalent to Plus-Two) has increased as it gives them the chance to work in French companies.
“We have between 22 to 25 per cent of Indian students, the majority of which are in a specific section called International Section for Excellence in Science (ISES),” Ms. Charles said.
The section helps students who are exceptional enter the equivalent of class 9 and finish with a Baccalaureate specialised in science. The lessons for this module begin in English and later switch to French.
They become French speakers at the end of the studies here and manage to pass their Baccalaureate .
The section aims at enabling students to acquire an intensive education in mathematics and science. A pass in French Baccalaureate will open the doors to higher studies in French, European and American universities, school officials said.
Two Indian students of the school have done extremely well at the Baccalaureate exam and been offered scholarship by the French government to continue their higher education in France.
“We believe in what we teach and we are ready to share with Indian teachers and universities. The other way round we are ready to share what they can bring to us. We can improve in both ways. The target is for people who have an ambition for their children and would like them to have a very good career and international opening,” Ms. Charles said.
“At the moment, Lycee Francais is working on different partnerships with Aditya Vidyashram in Puducherry. Both are interested in designing a future partnership. The school is in the process of designing a partnership with Shishya School, Chennai. The aim is to share the links between our type of education and how education is organised in India,” Ms. Charles said.
