French educators have expressed worry over the exclusion of internationally recognised French certifications such as the Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française (DELF) and the Baccalaureat.
The University French Teachers’ Association of Nigeria (UFTAN) has voiced worry about the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)’s recent decision to remove pre-degree diplomas as eligible qualifications for admission to Nigerian universities.
The exclusion of internationally recognised French diplomas, such as the Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française (DELF) and the Baccalaureat, has raised concerns among French educators.
UFTAN expressed these concerns at its 25th Conference and Annual General Meeting, titled “French Teaching in Nigeria in a Digital Age: Challenges and Prospects.”
The group said that the decision diminishes the value of these internationally recognised diplomas, which are critical to the advancement of French language education in Nigeria.
In a communiqué signed by UFTAN President Prof. Mufutau Tijani and Secretary Prof. Richard Ajah, the organisation urged the leadership of the Nigeria French Language Village (NFLV) and the French Embassy in Nigeria to intervene and address the situation.
UFTAN emphasised the importance of finding a solution that promotes the progress of French language education while also ensuring that students with adequate qualifications are not unfairly denied university admission.
However, the group praised the high-quality instruction at the Nigerian French Language Village (NFLV) in Badagry and urged all university French departments to continue sending students to the required Language Immersion Programme (LIP).
“The abrupt de-recognition of DELF, Baccalaureate, and other pre-degree certificates by JAMB is deeply concerning,” UFTAN stated, stressing the importance of collaboration between its leadership, the NFLV, and the French Embassy to reinstate the recognition of these certificates.