In case you haven't read it, the below link will bring you to the UNSCR
1973.
RADM Lemmons, Director International Engagement (OPNAV N52) recently gave a talk to Johns Hopkins, here's a summary of what he spoke about:
http://governmentalstudies.squarespace.com/blog/2011/3/10/rear-admiral-jeffrey-lemmons-delivers-symposium-lecture.html
By E. de PONCINS & A.H. ABDILAHI
Posted Wednesday, March 16 2011 at 17:23
Posted Wednesday, March 16 2011 at 17:23
The International Francophonie Day is celebrated on March 20 every year, bringing together different countries and institutions which, by passion or need, are interested in the French language, be it their native language or a foreign language.
The Francophonie Day is also a time for sharing cultural and moral values. Kenyans will take part in the celebration, as our Anglophone and Swahiliphone friends are all welcome to take part in the numerous events organised to mark this day.
This is because the promotion of French goes hand-in-hand with the promotion of cultural and linguistic diversity.
Figures from the International Francophony Organisation’s (OIF) report on the state of French in the world published in 2010 shows that close to 220 million people are today perfectly Francophone compared to 200 million in 2007.
These figures reveal the vitality and expansion of the French language in all the five continents.
This expansive nature of the French language is equally evident on the Internet, in global media as well as in international gatherings such as the Olympic Games.
At least 70 countries are members of the OIF. French is not only the language (exclusively or partially) of teaching in institutions of higher learning in the entire Francophone countries (teaching in French), but also one of the few foreign languages that form part of the curriculum of education systems (teaching of French) in almost all the countries in the world.
No wonder French is classified as the second most taught language in the world, coming closely after English. French is also promoted and taught within the network of bilateral and multilateral, governmental and non-governmental co-operation, such as the network of Alliances Françaises spread in over 135 countries with more than 490,000 students.
Overall, over 116 million people learn French today, half of them as a foreign language in sub-Saharan Africa and Indian Ocean (44 per cent) and in Europe (23.4 per cent).
Everybody knows that Kenya is a Kiswahili- and English-speaking country with over 42 local languages forming part of its linguistic heritage.
Yet it still demonstrates a marked interest in the French language. French is the most taught foreign language in Kenya and its demand continues to rise.
It is currently being taught in more than 400 schools to over 30,000 learners. It is against this backdrop that the government of France and Kenyan authorities co-signed a financing agreement to support the teaching and learning of French.
The Linguistic Department at the French Embassy is tasked with putting in place a training for trainers programme, as well as equipping the Network of Resource Centres for French for the benefit of students learning French in Kenya’s education system.
The centres, initially set at 15, may be increased due to great demand. One more centre is set to be opened at the University of Nairobi this year.
Various institutions within the Kenyan education system are internationally acclaimed for their role in the teaching of French: Kenya Association of Teachers of French (KATF), a member of the International Federation of Teachers of French (FIPF) and Kenyatta University which has joined the prestigious Universities Agency for Francophony (AUF).
Mr Etienne de Poncins is the French ambassador to Kenya, while Mr Aden Abdillahi is the Djibouti ambassador to Kenya and current honorary president of the Permanent Committee of the Francophonie in Kenya.
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