French junior high opens in Summerside

Nine French-language students in western P.E.I. have moved into their new grade seven classroom at École-sur-Mer.

It's the first time French junior high has been offered in Summerside.

The French School Board had hoped to have the classroom ready to go in September, even though the province had originally denied funding. Eventually the Department of Education reconsidered, providing $170,000 for construction.

Summerside students wanting to continue with the French Language School Board previously had to be bused to Wellington. French Board superintendent Gilles Benoit said without the new classroom, those nine students would likely have ended up in English schools.

"So for French education it's very positive," said Benoit.

"Those kids have a better education in French, and have more bilingual citizens in the province."

He hopes those student will stay in the French board until they finish high school.

Students had been using a rented room in the adjoining community centre until the new classroom was completed. The board wants to build two more classrooms for grades eight and nine over the next two years.

Funding for those classrooms hasn't been approved.