More than 100 people rallied in Saint John Tuesday afternoon, protesting against proposed changes to French immersion in the province's education system.

The early French immersion program is to be cancelled starting this fall, following a government-commissioned review of French second-language education in New Brunswick.

The 101-page report, released Feb. 27, recommended the New Brunswick government phase out its early French immersion program, adopting instead a new French-language system, to begin in Grade 5 and offer a more intense focus on French.

Adults and children taking part in the rally Tuesday said axing early French immersion will compromise learning, and they want the decision reversed.

Theresa Buckley brought her 18-month old daughter to the rally. Buckley said she wants to enroll her youngest child in French immersion when she's ready to enter school. Buckley's two older children are in French immersion.
 
"She even understands a few French words that her brother and sister speak to her already," Buckley said. "It's very disappointing to think that she won't get the chance to be bilingual like the other two.

"You can't get a job now unless you're bilingual, so why are we cutting out French programs? It doesn't make much sense to me."

This rally is one of several planned across the province this week.

The report stated that the early French immersion program, which begins in Grade 1, is not meeting its objectives and should be grandfathered out of the provincial education system.

The program is not sustainable because of falling enrolment and a high dropout rate, the report found.

Of the 1,469 students enrolled at the start of their elementary school education, the report found that only 554 continued through to Grade 12, and 15.93 per cent obtained the provincial target of advanced oral proficiency.

Education Minister Kelly Lamrock has said French starting at grade 5 for all students is the best way to get more bilingual graduates.