ZIMBABWE: Government denies plans to introduce Chinese language education

[Harold F. Schiffman]

>>From the Sunday Mail, Sunday, 29 January 2006

ZIMBABWE: Government denies plans to introduce Chinese language education


By ANDnetwork Journalist

THE Government does not intend to force students at the countrys
universities to learn Chinese but will work to ensure Zimbabwe and China
continue to strengthen political, economic, cultural and educational ties,
the Secretary for the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Dr
Washington Mbizvo has said.

Dr Mbizvos statement, made on Friday, comes in the wake of recent media
reports that suggested Government was planning to soon introduce Chinese
lessons at universities countrywide as part of its "Look East" policy. The
article, carried in The Standard of January 22 this year, made reference
to a speech which the Minister, Dr Stan Mudenge, delivered at the
International Conference on the transformation of Masvingo State
University to Great Zimbabwe University earlier in the month.

Dr Mbizvo said the minister did not mention that the State would impose
the Chinese language on local universities but had, in fact, suggested
that the university should introduce oriental studies, given its tradition
of preserving cultural trends. He pointed out that the "Look East" policy
had deep historical traditions with the Chinese "with tangible evidence
existing at Great Zimbabwe today".

"The ministry does not intend to introduce Chinese as part of the Look
East policy as alleged in the article and never in his key note address
did the minister talk about offering a curriculum that will see students
from all universities in the country taking Chinese language (lessons).
"The introduction of oriental studies like Chinese language or history at
Great Zimbabwe University does not translate to mean all students from the
university will study Chinese (language) or history, neither does it imply
all universities will introduce Chinese history or language in their
curricula," said Dr Mbizvo.

The conference, which was held on January 18, drew distinguished scholars
and academics, who also commended the Governments "Look East" policy,
highlighting that it had become a global trend for different countries to
conduct trade with China.

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Source : The Sunday Mail