France ‘seeking more ties’ with Bahrain in education sector

France is seeking more ties with the Kingdom in the educational sector, said French Parliament member Beatrice Piron, who is on a visit to the Kingdom, yesterday. “I am very glad to see that Bahrain is a country, which, like France is very committed to provide the best education system to its population,” Ms Piron said, during an exclusive interaction with Tribune.

A specialist in education, the parliamentarian said the bilateral ties in edu field is excellent. “I am particularly pleased that trilingualism (Arabic, English and French) is practised in the public schools of Bahrain since His Majesty the King has issued a Royal Decree in 2009, making French a compulsory subject at public schools.

“Being able to speak these three languages provides the Bahraini youth true assets to succeed in life,” she asserted. On further enhancing parliamentary co-operation, Ms Piron said: “I believe it is important to visit our parliamentarian colleagues on a regular basis and exchange on subjects of common interests. This is why I am coming to Bahrain every year and I would be glad that Bahraini MPs come soon to Paris.”

Ms Piron already had meetings with ministers, university administrators and parliamentarians. “I am very proud to say that the French presence in Bahrain is quite impressive. More than one thousand French people live in the Kingdom, some of them since a very long time and they really contribute to Bahraini society.

“I would like to stress the presence of two great French entities here in Bahrain, which I have visited: The French Lycée which provide a trilingual education (French, Arabic and English) and the Alliance Francaise, the French language and cultural centre, which has a very active cultural programme.”