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More pupils to learn about China
30/01/2009
More pupils in Scotland will have the chance to learn about Chinese language and culture following the opening of the West Lothian Confucius Classroom Hub at Bathgate Academy today.
This is the fourth of eight Confucius Hubs being opened across the country, following on from the hubs in Edinburgh, Perth and Kinross and Ayrshire.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop announced she has asked Learning and Teaching Scotland and British Council Scotland to work with the Chinese Authorities to develop a school visit programme for at least 50 pupils to China this summer. This would enable pupils to gain firsthand experience of Chinese culture, traditions and language.
Ms Hyslop said:
"The Scottish Government is committed to enhancing our engagement with China and raising the profile of learning about China and Chinese language in our schools, following the Memorandum of Understanding we agreed with China last year.
"China presents an enormous opportunity for Scotland and stronger ties in education, culture and business between the two countries will benefit us both. The network of Confucius Classroom Hubs, new qualifications in Mandarin language and the plans for school visits to China are all contributing to this.
"We want our young people to develop an international outlook with an understanding of Scotland's place in the world - a key element of Curriculum for Excellence - and the increasing significance of China within a global community.
"The new Confucius Classroom Hub at Bathgate Academy will give young people in West Lothian and the wider Lothians an insight into many aspects of Chinese culture, including language heritage, history, art, sport, food and music.
"This cross-curricular approach will offer young people a stimulating and engaging way to gain the skills necessary to succeed in the globalised world in which we live."
Learning and Teaching Scotland will support all eight Confucius Classrooms across the country. Bernard McLeary, Chief Executive of LTS said:
"The Confucius Classrooms will allow schools and local authorities across Scotland to work together to develop closer links with the world's fastest growing economy and instil the skills needed for work and life in the 21st century.
"Forging closer international links and developing international education in our schools through Curriculum for Excellence will ensure Scottish children and young people are outward looking, allowing them to prosper in today's multicultural society."
Confucius Classroom Hubs have already been opened in three locations: Edinburgh (St George's School), Perth and Kinross (Perth High School) and for East, North & South Ayrshire (Grange Academy). In addition to the West Lothian Hub, four further hubs will open by early March, in East Dunbartonshire (St Ninian's High School), North Lanarkshire (Our Lady's High School), Glasgow (Hillhead High School), Aberdeen and North East (Hazlehead Academy).
The Scottish Government is asking Learning and Teaching Scotland and British Council Scotland to work with the Chinese Authorities to enable at least 50 young people from Scottish schools to visit China this summer and take part in a Chinese Summer school. Further details will be announced when the negotiations have been finalised.
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning visited China in April 2008 and agreed a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Chinese Ministry of Education in Beijing. The focus of the memorandum is to strengthen educational co-operation between China and Scotland, support and promotes the development of Chinese language and culture and increase mutual understanding between young and teachers.
There are currently 13 Chinese Language Assistants working across seven Local Authorities in Scottish schools, a rise from eight last year and six the year before that. These assistants are qualified teachers and help schools in the learning and teaching of Chinese Language and Culture. The Chinese Language Assistants programme is managed by the British Council Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.