Vancouver School Board eyes French immersion expansion

The Vancouver School Board says another French immersion program could be up and running by September.

Parents are now signing children up for next year, but as in the past, lotteries will be run at several schools because of high demand.

At a recent information session at Vancouver's L'école Bilingue, parents were told there will likely be more than 100 children put into a lottery for just three dozen available spots.

Gino Bondi, the principal of specialty programs, says administrators are now meeting with trustees to figure out if more programs can be added.

"That will be forthcoming in the next couple of months," he said. "I think that would be a distinct possibility, that you'd see growth in some parts of the city."

There are currently 14 elementary schools in Vancouver that offer French immersion.

The Education Ministry say French immersion enrollment in B.C. is up nearly 50 per cent in the last decade, with 47,000 students around the province.