The Khamagattinsky Sakha-French Associated School

Written by Michael E. Nikolaev

The Khamagattinsky Sakha-French Associated School is located in Khamagatta — a settlement in the Namsky district. This educational establishment is an experimental site in the Republic and its aim is to provide profound studying of French. It was established on May 19, 1994 under the resolution of a Council of Experts, Ministry of Education of Yakutia. The school has been on the network of the UNESCO Associated schools since June 7, 1996 and was presented with the International Certificate signed by the Director-General of UNESCO Mr Federico Mayor. Three years later - in March 1997 - the school was also a part of the network of Presidential schools of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). As of February 2001, the school bears the status of «school laboratory», Research Institute on National Schools. On August 20, 2003 the school has become a resource center of the French language in the Republic for the Embassy of France in Russia.

The school accommodates 143 pupils who study in eleven class es. There is also a boarding school for 50 pupils from other districts, a comfortable hostel for teachers from abroad, «Lingua» international summer camp to relax and gather your strength before submerging into French.

Three of the guidelines for educational work are based on UNESCO's principles of Associated Schools.

The first — «Human Rights and Protection of Democratic Values » provides legal education. The main focus is on develop ing communication skills. Meetings with members of the Justice Community (justice and law-enforcement agencies) are organ ized. Pupils appoint a School Presidential Council, the Council of intermediary classes, and participate in all the so-called make- believe-elections in the Republic.

The second guideline «Studying traditions, histories and the cultural heritage of the peoples of Russia and other countries » provides additional information and gives depth to a philosophi cal, social, economic and scientific system for schoolchildren about the political situation in the world. Their feeling of patri otism is thus elevated and words such as globalization and joint cooperation take on more meaning. Special weeks are arranged for example surrounding the Russian language, French culture and Yakut . They also arrange Lomonosov Readings periods and one week on national pedagogy.

In addition to pursuing the study of one's mother tongue and due to the multi-lingual didactics in which they have been educated, the native language pupils start Russian and French in the 1st form. English follows in the 5th form with Latin in the 10th form. Annually, experienced teachers from

French-speaking countries work at the Khamagattinsky school. Correspondence is maintained between the pupils of the French colleges from the province of Alsace and the Rhne Alps. This applies to the teachers as well. The theatrical circle «Chance» gives pupils an opportunity to familiarize them selves with the culture, history and literature of European countries. The Summer International Center «Lingua» is the most suitable place and time for providing the right impetus and improving linguistic activities. A routine dialogue between the teachers and the students at the school is organ ized with representatives from European schools, an exchange of educational experience on approbation of educational inno vations is organized.

Within the framework of the project of UNESCO pupils participated in the International Camps of UNESCO Clubs in Belarus, Hungary and Slovakia. There was also a trip across Europe. A teacher of the Yakut language and literature V.Sivtsev repre sented Yakutia at the 1st All-Russian Meeting of Associated Schools «We all live on one planet». Teachers of the school took part in the 2nd All-Russian Meeting of UNESCO Associated Schools.

The third guideline is based on UNESCO's principle of «Studying the environment and methods of its preservation and evolution, propagation of a healthy way of life». It provides ecological education to pupils, in other words be aware of the environment surrounding you and learn all there is to learn about it and the consequence will be to live a healthy way of life. A complex ecological expedition is conducted to the river Kenkeme. During 8 days teachers and pupils carry out joint exploratory work. Through such expeditions, chil dren grow up learning to love their native land. There is a project «Ecology starts in your own back yard, students clean territories, plant trees, take care of monuments within the project.