The third significant challenge we face is engaging stakeholders and decision-makers about FSL education and its benefits. Promotion of official bilingualism is the key to buy-in at all levels of society, in government, in workplaces, in educational establishments, and in cultural arenas.
Decision-makers should be made accountable for setting educational policies, providing stable funding, ensuring a sufficient supply of quality and qualified official language teachers, reporting on the achievement of students and official language programs in a timely and transparent manner, and—a key point for us—facilitating parental and community stakeholder engagement in open and inclusive decision-making.
The backbone of an effective language learning program stems from the strength and leadership of its teachers. Universities and local governments within the province of Alberta should consult with other provinces and strongly consider the use and acceptance of the Diplôme d’études en langue française—the DELF— or a Canadian equivalent grounded in the common European framework of reference as a common assessment tool for language proficiency that is recognized worldwide.
They should also consider dedicated streams for FSL graduates entering education to become core or immersion teachers at their choice of university, and additional bursaries for education students intending to teach FSL in Alberta.
In conclusion, Canadian Parents for French understands the value of strategic partnerships that help increase the dissemination of the importance of official language promotion, and subsequently, the promotion of French as a second language programs across the country.
We've been in partnership with l'ACFA for 13 years now as well as ACCENT. We're hoping to continue that in the future. Our unique position allows us to provide the perspective of parents who value the importance of Canada's official languages and French as a second language education programs from across the country. In addition, we offer a grassroots and overarching perspective to best inform actions going forward.
We greatly appreciate all the support from the federal government over the years. We look forward to working closely with the Government of Canada and particularly with this committee as it moves forward in identifying new priorities and initiatives in the area of bilingualism by modernizing the OLA to further support rapprochement, community vitality, and exemplary government.
We thank you for this opportunity to appear before the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages.