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Michael Taylor

The commitment of the French community to the SAR's future has been demonstrated with the opening of a $130 million extension to the French International School of Hong Kong, 'Victor Segalen'.

 The eight-storey extension includes 32 classrooms, administration facilities, a gymnasium, covered playground, library, canteen, three staff quarters, a basement car park and a roof park for school buses.

  'The decision by FIS to build an extension for the secondary pupils . . . is a testimony to France's confidence in the future of the Hong Kong SAR,' Claude Allegre, French Minister for Education, Research and Technology, said.

  'The current temporary economic difficulties in the region do not affect our long-term confidence.'  FIS - the largest French-medium school in the Far East - opened the extension at Blue Pool Road last month.

 Located just 500 metres from the school's original site in Jardine's Lookout, it will house secondary students. Primary students will remain at the first school.

 FIS has developed a reputation over the years as one of Hong Kong's most innovative international schools.

  Mr Allegre said the school 'has achieved an excellent academic tradition, as reflected by outstanding results in various examinations'.

 'This is a tribute to the quality of the teaching staff and to the sound financial management performed by the executive committee on behalf of the parents' association.'   With two streams, FIS caters to both French- and non-French-speaking students.

 'The school plays a very important role in the French local community, which is the largest in the Far East. Currently there are 500 French companies based in Hong Kong, whose activities cover the whole region,' he said.

  'FIS, therefore, provides very high standards for the children of French expatriate families.'   The growing number of non-French-speaking students at the school is testimony to its success.

  '[FIS has . . .] significantly contributed to diffusing our culture and our excellent educational system within the various com munities present in Hong Kong, international and Chinese,' Mr Allegre said.

  He hoped that some of the pupils from the school's international stream would choose to further their studies in France after graduating.

  'One of the priorities of my ministry is to foster the relationship between international students and French academic insti tutions, and we are working hard to make the students' experience a rewarding one,' he said.

  FIS is one of 385 schools dependent on the Agency for French Teaching Abroad, a specialist organisation for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  A private school, it is also one of more than 40 international schools in Hong Kong.

  Secretary for Education and Manpower Joseph Wong Wing-ping said: 'Since its establishment in 1964, the French International School has grown steadily with the number of pupils now approaching 1,100 from 25 nationalities.

  'With the completion of the extension, the capacity of the school will increase to 1,500 pupils.

 'The success of the school is a tribute to the dedication and com mitment of its staff, parents' association and all those who participate in its development and operation.'   International schools played an important role in Hong Kong society, Mr Wong said.

  'Not only do they provide school places to meet the educational needs of our expatriate community through different curricula and teaching methods, they contribute immensely to the developmentof Hong Kong as a vibrant international business and financial centre and to the enrichment of our social and cultural fabric,' he said.

  While praising the school's facilities, Mr Wong said it was the people - including parents and teachers - who would make the difference in the children's education.



Vote of confidence in the SAR's future