Lagos State To Introduce Mandarin Into Language Curriculum For Schools.

By David Stephen.

The Lagos state government is set to introduce Chinese official language – Mandarin – studies, into the curriculum of public schools from next session. This is a result of a partnership between the Lagos Government and the Chinese Confucius Institute, in Lagos. The move, according to the Lagos Commissioner for Education Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, “would be an opportunity for the pupils and students to speak the language and be able to adapt to the Chinese culture.” She made this known when officials from the Institute visited her office to sign the Memorandum of Understanding. The Co-Director of the Institute Professor Lirong Jiang at the ceremony, said, “The Institute is prepared to provide Chinese instructors to teach the language and culture in the state’s public schools as soon as the Memorandum of Understanding is signed between the state and the institute. The knowledge of Chinese language will help students to further their studies in China and carry out research in various fields of human endeavour as China has become a success story in the world economy.” The move is another step towards knowledge as French language studies has been, for years, in schools. China’s role in Africa is also growing as it recently loaned Nigeria $1.1 billion for rail and airport terminal projects. Nigeria and Chinese bi-lateral trade also jumped recently, as China was announced the biggest purchaser of Nigeria’s oil. This new move for Mandarin education will get the partnership to new heights.