Russian language abroad: Russian teachers will teach French schoolchildren the Russian history and geography

The ‘Russian section’ will open in the Saint-Germain-en-Laye International Lyceum in the beginning of the school year 2010. The French Minister of Education Luc Chatel has confirmed the approval of his Ministry as well as the Versaille University administration for this action. The ‘Russian section’ will open as a part of the Year of Russia-France.

The principle of the ‘Russian section’ consists of the idea that some disciplines, and the Russian language and literature in particular as well as a part of the topics on the Russian history and geography will be given by the Russian teachers in the Russian language. The section will be preparing the students for examination in order to obtain the French bachelor’s degree with ‘international’ option which is recognized by the Russian Higher Education Institutions. All those who wish will be allowed to pass exams in order to obtain the Russian school leaving certificate under the Russian embassy school.

In 2010 it is planned to open just an experimental second grade (the 9th according to the Russian school system) with a low number of students. In the nearest future the principle will be also applied to other grades. At the present the signing up for the school year 2010 is open. Recently this year the similar sections were opened in Strasburg and Valbona.

In the western suburbs of Paris there are many Russian-language families. For them the possibility to sing up their children for the ‘Russian section’ is the means to ensure that they will know fluently not just French language but also the language of their ancestors.