More schools start teaching Chinese

Part of the Chinese community attended the ceremony (Photo By Julian Ninsiima)

MAKERERE- The foundation has been laid for rolling out the teaching of Chinese language in Ugandan secondary schools.

As the Chinese Confucius Institute at Makerere celebrated its fourth anniversary on Friday, it emerged that the Chinese language is making significant inroads into the country’s education system.

The institute was set up to spearhead the teaching of the Chinese language and culture at Uganda’s premier university.

During a function interspersed by the Ugandan traditional and ballet dance performed by Ugandans and Chinese at Makerere University, the Ugandan institute director, Prof. Oswald Ndoleriire, said several secondary schools in Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area have already started teaching Chinese language.

He explained that the institute has established teaching centres in various parts of the country, and that 30 more secondary schools will start teaching Chinese in the next academic year.

“Several schools are already teaching Chinese language in Kampala, Luwero, Wakiso and other areas. More schools will introduce the teaching of the same language in the next academic year because the institute has trained several school head teachers and they are ready to introduce it in schools,” Ndoleriire stated.

He explained that the Chinese language syllabus is ready, and will also be rolled out next academic year. “35 Ugandan teachers have underground nine months of training at Luyanzi College in Bweyogerere and are ready to introduce the language. We are targeting to introduce the Chinese language teaching in 30 schools next year and 100 in three years,” Ndoleriire said.

Students of Luyanzi College in a Chinese Kongfu (Photo By Julian Ninsiima)

The Kampala minister, Beti Kamya, said she would enroll for the Chinese language lessons at the institute, urging Ugandans to embrace the learning of the (Chinese language) and culture.