Article 2 of a new law on higher education and research relaxes a 1994 “Toubon” law, which stipulated that French must be used in universities and all but banned lessons in another language and visits from foreign guest teachers.
Education unions had called a strike on Wednesday in protest at the measure, but few teachers and researchers took part.
Geneviève Fioraso, the minister for higher education, said she was “delighted” the article had been approved, saying the criticism of the proposed law was more “posturing” than conviction and had given France, “the land of universality and Enlightenment, a narrow-minded image”.
She hopes that introducing more English-language lessons will increase the number of foreign students at French universities from the current level of 12 per cent of the total to 15 per cent by 2020.
During the debate, mainly Right-wing MPs staunchly opposed opening the door to more English in university classes. More.
See: The Telegraph
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