Chinese language learning comes to Scottish schools

Published on Friday 9 May 2008 22:17

A CLASSROOM dedicated to Chinese language opened in Edinburgh yesterday. The first Confucius centre in Scotland will eventually form part of a network across Scotland.

The aim is to boost the learning of Mandarin and Chinese culture in Scotland by providing shared resources and teaching.

This first classroom is based at St George's School in the capital, and pupils at Balerno, Firrhill, James Gillespie's, Currie, Leith, Trinity and Broughton secondaries will also benefit.

The launch comes in the same week the Scottish exams board announced the first school qualification in the language.

Fiona Hyslop, the education secretary, travelled to China in April to cement closer education links. Bernard McLeary, chief executive of Learning and Teaching Scotland, said the new centres would equip Scottish children for the wider world.

He added: "The aim is to prepare our children and young people with a range of skills and experiences which will allow them to prosper in today's multicultural society."

A further four centres will open in the next year.