Give Chinese lessons to every Scots pupil, says headteacher

Published on Wednesday 5 March 2008 20:54

ALL pupils in Scotland should be given the chance to learn Chinese, a pioneer of teaching the subject has said.

Dr Judith McClure, headteacher of St George's School in Edinburgh, which was among the first to offer the subject, said mastery of it was a key skill.

Dr McClure, who is also convener of the Scotland China Education Network, said: "It is what business needs – people with an understanding and a familiarity with Chinese culture, especially people who are able to communicate."

She made the call as she commended the Scottish Government for aiming at stronger links with China.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government was supportive of the call and said many councils were already looking at offering the language.

He said: "We believe that it is good to encourage a range of languages and we would encourage them to consider this.

"At the same time, Learning Teaching Scotland (the government's curriculum quango] are working to develop greater support for schools in Chinese culture and language."

Yesterday, the education secretary Fiona Hyslop, on a visit to the Confucius Centre in Edinburgh, which helps promote the Chinese language, announced she will travel to China next month. She described it as a "marvellous" time to visit the Olympic host-nation and revealed plans to meet the country's education minister.

She said: "I am leading a delegation consisting of experts from the further and higher education sectors. The purpose of our visit is to strengthen our engagement with China, with a particular focus on developing existing and new educational and research links."

She will also meet business contacts in the renewable energies and life-sciences sectors.

She added: "China presents an enormous opportunity for Scotland. We see strong ties in education, science research, culture and business between Scotland and China."

More than 4,000 Chinese students attend Scottish universities and Heriot-Watt has a particularly strong link.

A spokeswoman said: "Given the rapid development of the Chinese economy, it will continue to be an important client for Scottish higher education, and we hope that Ms Hyslop's visit will build on the ties between the two countries."

HEADING EAST

THE Confucius Centre is a partnership between Edinburgh University and Fudan University in Shanghai to promote economic, educational and cultural ties between Scotland and China.

Fiona Hyslop was visiting the centre to meet 32 Scottish students due to travel to China to take part in Easter and summer schools, as part of a drive to build stronger links with the world's fastest-growing major economy.

The aim is for the students to pick up some language and learn about Chinese culture.