122 Kenyan Students Land Jobs in France 

A group of college students holding a discussion.
A group of college students holding a discussion.
File

A group of 122 students from 15 Kenyan universities have landed an opportunity to teach English in primary and secondary schools in France for one year. 

The deal will be part of an exchange program supported by the French and Kenyan governments. 

The students will be posted in various regions in France including Guyana, Guadalupe, and Martinique.

A file image of students pictured outside a local university
A file image of students pictured outside a local university
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Julie Briand, who is attached to the French embassy, stated that the 122 students were selected out of a pool of 150 applicants.

She added that the criteria used in selecting the participants involved good comprehension of the French and English languages, which the candidates were tested in.

"We selected them based on their motivation and will to share their culture with others. The purpose of the programme is to develop the mobility of young people and create bridges between French and Kenyan cultures," she told journalists.

Out of the 122 candidates, 92 would teach in secondary schools while 30 would be based in primary schools. The students would work for 12 hours a week and will be given a monthly stipend of 800 euros (Ksh103,970) by the French embassy.

Further, the students would be given health insurance and a visa for a work permit.

"It's a nice feeling since this will be my first time to travel outside the country. I've studied the French language from secondary school at Alliance Française and now I'm at C1 (superior) proficiency level," one of the students, Hawo Hassan stated.

The French ambassador to Kenya, Aline Kuster-Menager also lauded the project and noted that it would be a great opportunity for the students to explore different cultures.

"You are on the threshold of a great adventure! Human, professional, educational and international," she stated.

The deal is part of the bilateral agreement between the Kenyan and French governments following the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Kenya in 2019. 

President Uhuru Kenyatta and President Emmanuel Macron when he visited Kenya
President Uhuru Kenyatta and President Emmanuel Macron when he visited Kenya.
The Standard