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News from the International School

The Advisory committee to the International School last week in Cadarache.

From the beginning of the school year in early September 2009, the option of a Type 2 European School curriculum may be offered, subject to approval by the French Minister of Education and by the High Council of the European Schools alongside the current International School curriculum for its secondary school. This means that for the European languages, up to 90% of the lessons will be allowed to be given in mother tongue language, instead of 50%, as is currently the case.

This is the outcome of a meeting between the International Advisory Committee of the International School, which consists of members of the Domestic Agencies or of the Member states' Ministries of Education, and representatives of the French Ministry of Education on 22 April. The Committee, which was set up to ensure that the ITER Member states are actively involved in the development of the school, had a meeting with ITER parents in the early afternoon to listen to their suggestions and concerns, prior to meeting the ministerial delegation.

A number of additional improvements will also be put in place at the beginning of the new school year:

* For every level, one class will be opened * A Spanish section will be launched * The school year will start off with 7 weeks of intensive language courses in French, English and Italian for those who wish and any pupil who arrives during the year will also get these courses * In September 2008, the school will employ more than 50 teachers

"These new developments are very good news for the school," says Pascale Amence-Antoni, Senior Advisor to the ITER Director-General Kaname Ikeda, "and they will certainly be welcomed by many parents and pupils. It is also proof that the School, the local communities, the Ministry of Education, the IAC Committee members and ITER are all working closely together to make sure the International School lives up to expectations of ITER staff and their families."