FRANCE-NZ Arrangement to strengthen bilateral cooperation in education and cultural exchange

A new arrangement between New Zealand and France will help strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in the fields of education and cultural exchange.

The Arrangement of Education Cooperation between the two countries will help facilitate the exchange of information in early childhood education, primary and secondary education, and vocational and technical training.

“It means we can continue to support language and cultural exchange through placement of French Language Assistants from France or its French-speaking territories in the Pacific region in New Zealand,” says Ms Parata.

“We want to encourage Teacher Professional Development programmes, and Language Immersion Awards using resources and expertise based in France and/or its French-speaking territories in the Pacific region.

In addition, France and New Zealand have shared histories in the First World War and will commemorate these histories in 2014 which includes launching education initiatives for schools in both countries.

“We seek to bring school students from both countries together to explore the profound significance and impact of this event through creative projects. This fits in well with the signed arrangement we initiated today.

“This agreement has been in development for over two years, and it is timely to now formally sign it.”

Ms Parata will travel on to Istanbul, Turkey, to attend an OECD Ministers of Education meeting. She will personally invite the Ministers to the International Summit on Teaching Profession which New Zealand is hosting in March, 2014.

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