The Chinese language, Mandarin, has become one of the foreign languages to be offered in Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) in Nigeria in the newly reviewed secondary school curriculum.
The Education Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, announced the development at the inauguration of the Chinese Corner at the Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Abuja.
The project was sponsored by the biggest Chinese construction company in Nigeria, the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), as part of its corporate social responsibility (CRS).
Hayyo stressed the foresight of the FCT Education Board, which had introduced Mandarin in schools in the territory before the latest review of the curriculum.
He said: “May I inform you that in the recent review of our curriculum, the Chinese language has been selected as one of the international languages to offer in Senior Secondary Schools.
“That is to say that the FCT has been very visionary in introducing the subject in our schools through the Chinese Corners early enough. Chinese Mandarin has the largest number of speakers in the world and, today, it has become the language of commerce, education, and tourism.
“Our decision to delve into Chinese education and culture is a wise move.”
The FCT Education Secretary also said the inauguration of the new centre yesterday brought to 14 the number of Chinese centres in Abuja.
The centres, he said, were established in secondary schools across the Federal Capital City.
“The bilateral relations have led to the establishment of 13 Chinese corners and the inauguration of the 14th Corner in G.S.S. Tudun Wada today.”
