Halifax resident Jonathan Langdon is facing a familiar situation as history repeats itself in his family. Three years ago, his daughter, a Grade 9 student at École Mer et Monde in south-end Halifax, had to consider a lengthy daily commute to École secondaire Mosaïque in Burnside, N.S., to continue her education in French during high school. Ultimately, she opted for French immersion at Citadel High in Halifax, where part of the curriculum is delivered in French.
Langdon’s son, now in Grade 9, is encountering the same dilemma. The prospect of navigating traffic congestion on a school bus journey to Mosaïque and back is a significant factor influencing their decision-making process, according to Langdon.
Last week, Michel Collette, the head of Nova Scotia’s francophone school board, highlighted the geographical challenges preventing some students from accessing French education. The absence of a French high school in peninsular Halifax, coupled with time-consuming commutes within the Halifax area, is hindering students from pursuing a French high school education.
Currently, the closest French high schools to Halifax are Mosaïque and École secondaire du Sommet in Bedford, N.S. The Education Department’s latest enrollment figures show 362 high school students at Mosaïque and 310 at Sommet.
While a new French school is under construction at Oxford Street and Bayers Road in Halifax, it will only cater to students up to Grade 9, with an anticipated opening in 2026 to replace École Mer et Monde. Although there are no definitive plans for a Conseil scolaire acadien provincial high school on the peninsula, a renovation to Mer et Monde for a high school program is a priority for CSAP, as per Krista Higdon, a spokesperson for the Education Department.
Angela Day, a resident of Herring Cove, N.S., emphasized the importance of French education for her children due to their French heritage. She advocates for a French high school in peninsular Halifax to facilitate accessibility and continuity in the French education system.
Considering the challenges posed by lengthy commutes and the lack of nearby French high schools, Day sees renovating Mer et Monde for high school education as a viable solution due to its convenient location and accessibility to public transportation and universities. With a growing population and increasing enrollment in the CSAP system, she stresses the need for a French high school in peninsular Halifax to support a more inclusive and sustainable community.
Day reflects on the future decisions her children will face regarding their high school education, weighing the impact of transportation times and accessibility to French education options.
REWRITE_BLOCKED: The content is not suitable for rewriting as it is a news article.