X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parenting & Play by Friso
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-schooler
    • Kids
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • Money Parenting
    • Tips for Parents
    • Tips for Toddlers
    • Tips for Older Kids
    • The 5 Personas
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Schools in South Africa will be teaching Mandarin

2 min read
Schools in South Africa will be teaching MandarinSchools in South Africa will be teaching Mandarin

What do some figures think of the decision to start teaching Mandarin in South African schools?

South African state schools will introduce Mandarin lessons starting 2016, said a government official. This is in a bid to strengthen cultural relations with China, who had become their largest trading partner since 2009.

According to Yahoo! News, basic education spokesman Elijah Mhlanga told AFP that South Africa hopes to teach Mandarin to "as many people as far as practically possible". The programme is part of a 10-year plan signed by South African President Jacob Zuma in December last year.

Mhlanga also shared teachers have been going to China for training and China has also been bringing in trainers into South Africa to support them, and that China is footing the bill for the training.

Along with all the training, three Confucius Institutes and research centres similar to Germany's Goethe-Institut will be built to promote Chinese culture.

This issue is met with divided points of view.

Dr Paul Tembe, a research fellow at the Centre for Chinese Studies at Stellenbosch University, feels that the decision has been long overdue.

Dr Tembe said that "it would be absurd if our government didn't arm our people with Mandarin", seeing how influences of China is present in all aspects of the African society. In fact, on a trip to China in 2004, he found that Chinese schools were already teaching Swahili and Zulu.

On the other hand, the South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) is strongly against the decision. They described the move as "tantamount to a new form of colonisation".

"We will prioritise African languages in order to build social cohesion," said Mugwena Maluleke, the union's general secretary.

If this news inspired you to train your child to be multilingual, here's our two cents on how you can get started!

 

What are your thoughts on this? Share them in the comments below!

Partner Stories
Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists and Engineers With 3M Girls Can Tinker Program
Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists and Engineers With 3M Girls Can Tinker Program
3M and Science Centre Singapore Announced 3M Girls Can Tinker, a Year-Long Science Outreach Program for 300 Underprivileged Girls
3M and Science Centre Singapore Announced 3M Girls Can Tinker, a Year-Long Science Outreach Program for 300 Underprivileged Girls
Here’s Why Our VIP Mums Love Kinderland Preschool & Infant Care
Here’s Why Our VIP Mums Love Kinderland Preschool & Infant Care
Online Enrichment Classes For Your Child: What You Need to Know
Online Enrichment Classes For Your Child: What You Need to Know

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Jasmine Yeo

  • Home
  • /
  • Education
  • /
  • Schools in South Africa will be teaching Mandarin
Share:
  • Is Mandarin the new English?

    Is Mandarin the new English?

  • Mandarin song for kids - Making friends

    Mandarin song for kids - Making friends

  • Singaporean Sugar Baby Spills The Beans On What Life Is Like With A Sugar Daddy

    Singaporean Sugar Baby Spills The Beans On What Life Is Like With A Sugar Daddy

  • Why it's getting harder to keep baby safe in this world

    Why it's getting harder to keep baby safe in this world

app info
get app banner
  • Is Mandarin the new English?

    Is Mandarin the new English?

  • Mandarin song for kids - Making friends

    Mandarin song for kids - Making friends

  • Singaporean Sugar Baby Spills The Beans On What Life Is Like With A Sugar Daddy

    Singaporean Sugar Baby Spills The Beans On What Life Is Like With A Sugar Daddy

  • Why it's getting harder to keep baby safe in this world

    Why it's getting harder to keep baby safe in this world

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2022. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and lifestyle updates.