Education experts have urged the government and school administrators to invest more in French language teaching, warning that limited learning resources and inadequate support for teachers could undermine efforts to equip Ugandan learners with skills needed to compete in the global job market.

The call was made at Ntare School in Mbarara City during an awards ceremony organised by the Alliance Française de Kampala (AFK) to recognise secondary schools and universities excelling in the promotion and teaching of French.

Eighteen outstanding secondary schools and universities in western Uganda were recognised and awarded various educational prizes for their efforts in advancing French language education.

Among the institutions recognised were Boni Consilii Girls’ Secondary School, Ntare School, Maryhill High School, St Paul’s Secondary School Mutolere in Kisoro District, Kasese Secondary School and Kabale University.

The awards aim to motivate learners and educators to embrace French language learning while promoting excellence in language instruction across the country.

Speaking at the event, Alliance Française de Kampala Director Loïc Boivin said the initiative is part of the broader French government-funded FEF Project, a two-year programme supported by €288,000, equivalent to approximately Shs1.1 billion, to improve access to quality French language learning resources across Uganda.

He said the project was improving access to language education resources, benefiting learners, teachers and academic institutions.

The President of the Association of Teachers of French in Uganda (APFO), Dr Agatha Atwiine, urged the government to provide financial grants to institutions teaching French to strengthen training and ensure a steady supply of qualified language teachers.

Mbarara City Education Officer Gerald Nkurikiyimana commended the initiative, noting that learning international languages helps educators adopt modern and interactive teaching methods.

Headteachers from participating institutions also welcomed the initiative, saying internationally recognised French language certifications can help learners access scholarships and employment opportunities abroad.

However, they called on the Ugandan and French governments to provide more locally relevant French textbooks and review the remuneration of French language teachers to improve the quality of instruction and attract more professionals to the field.