Bulawayo Schools pioneer Chinese language lessons ...

Bulawayo Schools pioneer Chinese language lessons in public schools

Zim Now Writer

Chinese language gains popularity in Zimbabwean schools- www.xinhuanet.com

Montrose High School and Nkulumane High School will be the first first government schools to teach Mandarin in Zimbabwe, launching lessons in January 2023.

Watch Zim kids sing Chinese song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYcHPkP5qJ4

Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MOPSE) Permanent Secretary Mrs Tumisang Thabela said that this initiative will open up opportunities for public institution learners who are behind their private school counterparts in international citizenry grooming.

“Currently I can say it’s mainly private actors who can afford to pay extra teachers to give them foreign languages. In the public system we still do not have much of that.

“Today’s child has to be given skills to live anywhere and thrive anywhere. The Chinese economy is one of the strongest currently. So, Mandarin comes in because trade is now much alive to goods and products.

“So, for those children who are looking beyond Zimbabwe, beyond their boundary Mandarin becomes one of the options. Definitely it will give them an edge,” said Mrs Thabela.

As of 2019 The Confucius Institute at the University of Zimbabwe, the first of its kind in Zimbabwe and the 85th around the world had 3000 graduate with a number of them teaching Chinese in schools and institutions or working as interpreters at Chinese owned companies operating in Zimbabwe.

MOPSE spokesperson Mr Taungana Ndoro said Zimbabwe school curriculum has 20 languages including Mandarin.

“Proper language learning means learning of the four basic skills which are listening, speaking, reading and writing. Language in the Zimbabwe curriculum comprises 14 indigenous languages, English, Sign and Foreign languages: Chinese, Portuguese, Swahili and French,” Mr Taungana said.

Primary and Secondary Education Ministry’s director of communication and advocacy Mr Taungana Ndoro said several

Lupane State University (LSU) senior lecturer in the Languages Department Dr Busani Maseko said Chinese language across the globe matches the Asian giant’s rising world stature.

“It’s not just the spread of the Chinese language but the spread of the influence of its speakers. The Chinese influence is increasing not just in Zimbabwe but in Africa in general, South America among other continents. China is fast becoming a global power house and its language is spreading,” he said.