The construction of the new campus of the Joshua Hoffet French School (Lycée Français Josué Hoffet), which shall serve as an upper secondary school, was commenced on Wednesday in Hadxaifong district of Vientiane.
The construction of the new campus of the French School is being undertaken under the project of the extension of the Joshua Hoffet French School.
The construction of the new upper secondary school is expected to be complete within 2017.
There is no room for an extension at the existing school facilities so the school’s administration recommended the construction of a new premises in a suitable location to serve as the upper secondary school.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Wednesday in Hadxaikhao village, Hadxaifong district, attended by Mayor of Vientiane, Dr Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, French Ambassador to Laos, Mrs Claudine Ledoux , along with senior officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports, the school administration and invited guests.
Speaking at the ceremony, French School director Mr. Sebastien Mathey said that this project saw a signing ceremony on the concession of land for the construction and extension of Lycee Josué Hoffet between the Lao government and the school administration in March 2015.
Mr. Mathey reported that today, the school has more than 500 students of different nationalities. The rate of increase has been maintained for years at around 8 percent per annum.
The French School also cooperates with Vientiane High School to provide bilingual classes and improve its curriculum.
I just want to extend my sincere thanks to the Lao government for authorising the concession and also Hadxaikhao village, which will welcome us, Mr. Mathey said.
One senior teacher from the school, who asked not to be named, said the construction of the new branch will cost US$37 million with support from the French government.
This new building will be able to receive a total of about 800 students once construction is complete.
The new building will be three storeys high and feature 26 class rooms. It will be built on an area of 14,000 square metres in total.
The teacher said the opening of the new campus will not alter the status of the school in any way but will enable it to accommodate a larger number of students of all nationalities and therefore more Lao students as well.
According to Lycée Français Josué Hoffet, the school was founded in 1986 by a group of parents who wanted to provide a quality education for their children.
It was named after the geologist and paleontologist who made significant archeological discoveries including dinosaur fossils in Laos in 1936.
The school’s main aim is to ensure quality education in Vientiane with priority for French children but it will welcome, subject to availability, the children of the international community in Laos.
Lycée Français Josué Hoffet is particularly concerned for children whose first language is not French. It organises support courses and extracurricular activities that are specifically intended for them.
Source: Vientiane Times
