France is to spend a total of eight billion cedis to establish two more French Training Departments at the Wesley College in Kumasi and the Bagabaga Training College in Tamale this year.

The departments, to be completed in September, would increase the number in the country's training colleges to three, including that of the Mount Mary's college at Somanya in the Eastern Region.

They are also to enjoy a yearly assistance of five to six billion cedis to enable them to train more French teachers to beef up the limited number in the basic schools.

Mr Jean-Michel Berrit, the French Ambassador announced this on Thursday when he called on the Minister of Education, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi in Accra.

Mr Berrit said the small number of students learning French at the junior and senior secondary schools is not encouraging and wondered whether French could not be made a core subject in the curriculum.

He said out of the total university student population, only 700 are studying French adding, ''this is just too small.''

"Even though Ghana is surrounded by French speaking countries, Ghanaians do not endeavour to learn French as the French speaking countries learn English.''

He said it is important that Ghanaians study French to enable them to interact with their neighbours and promised continuous French support in Ghana's efforts to make the teaching and learning of the language attractive.

Professor Ameyaw- Akumfi said the Ministry and the French Embassy have been working closely to get as many students as possible to study French at the basic level.

He said for French to be made a liberal subject for first year students in the universities calls for refurbishing of language laboratories and asked the Embassy to put more emphasis on the educational sector.

"Meanwhile we shall maximise the use of existing facilities in our schools and counsel students on the need to study French to enhance their job prospects.''

He said when their interest is sustained, the Ministry would consider making French a core subject.

The Minister commended the Embassy for its assistance and urged it to slot in at least a 30-minute programme on "How to speak good French'' on the FM station, Radio France generate increased public interest.