Madagascar plans to make Russian a compulsory school subject
Madagascar's government has announced a plan to add Russian to the national compulsory school curriculum. Latvia's public broadcaster LSM describes the step as another geopolitical success for Moscow in Africa.
The government of Madagascar has announced a plan to include the Russian language in the compulsory school curriculum. Madagascar is an island nation off Africa's eastern coast. If the plan goes ahead, Russian would become a mandatory subject in the country's schools.
Latvia's public broadcaster LSM characterises the decision as yet another geopolitical success for Russia. By this assessment, Moscow is thereby extending the borders of the so-called "Russian world" in Africa. "Russian world" is a term for the sphere of Russian language and cultural influence beyond Russia's own borders.
The source does not say when Russian could start to be taught, in which school grades it would be offered, or how teachers would be provided. It also does not mention whether any agreement with Russia lies behind the move. Those details are not yet known.
