MoU signed in Noumea to allow the development of an Australian curriculum section in the French Baccalaureate
ouverture des sections internationales australiennes en Nouvelle-Calédonie

Mr Christopher Pyne MP, Mr Philippe Germain Mr Vincent Bouvier signing the Memorandum of Understanding

The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Ms Hélène Iékawé, member of the New Caledonia Government in charge of education, and Mr Patrick Dion, Vice-Recteur Directeur Général des Enseignements de la Nouvelle-Calédonie.

Once the curriculum is established, the Australian section will be trialled in a number of secondary schools in New Caledonia, requiring students to invest about six hours a week on Australian literature and four hours a week on Australian history and geography. Students will learn more about Australian history and culture as part of their regular curriculum. The first Australian curriculum sections should open in February 2016 at the start of New Caledonia next school year.

This partnership between France, New Caledonia and Australia serves a dual purpose:

-promoting academic excellence by offering a bilingual and bicultural education to the students,

-enhancing regional integration of New Caledonia and strengthening its relations with Australia.