Kampala — THE French embassy has awarded scholarships to 37 students of Makerere and Kyambogo universities who are studying French. The beneficiaries comprise 16 second-year students and 21 students in the first year.

France's ambassador René Forceville said the scholarship package covers tuition for this academic year 2009/2010 of about sh51m.

He was speaking at a cocktail hosted for the students and their parents in Kampala.

Forceville said the two universities offer quality education and can be relied on to produce academically strong graduates.

The chairperson of the Association of French Teachers in Uganda, Millburga Atcero, hailed the embassy for contributing to the training of French teachers in the country.

This is the second year that the scholarship scheme has been running for students pursuing the Bachelors of Arts degree in Education with French as a teaching subject.

The French embassy also runs other programmes in education, some of which include training in French as a foreign language for teachers.

The embassy also offers a PhD grant programme for university French teachers, as well as educational training courses at the International Centre for Educational Studies in the French overseas territory of La Réunion.

This year, 13 French teachers and two student teachers will attend the course.

The embassy also sponsors French classes for civil servants and journalists. There is also a certification programme for the official French Ministry of Education diplomas.