Following recent reports that government had okayed the teaching of Chinese language in Secondary schools, dissenting voices have started to emerge on this matter.
One such is a concern being raised by the Buhweju Woman Member of Parliament Hon Olive Koyekyenga; who fears that the move could further harm the already endangered social-cultural fabric of the country.
According to reports, government has already selected a number of schools to pioneer the teaching of the Chinese language and teachers are set to be imported.
During a fundraising function in Mbarara on the weekend, MP Koyekyenga urged parents in the western region to reject the teaching of the Chinese language in their schools and emphasize the teaching of local languages and cultures.
Because of government’s “encouragement of foreign cultures and behavior’ the MP says Ugandan children have been exposed like never before to dangerous practices such as drugs.
Chinese as a new language will be included in the education curriculum in 2018 academic year subsequently the training of Ugandan teachers is slated for February 2017.
Last week, the government said it would be rolling out the plan together with the Makerere University’s Confucius Institute. Prof Oswald Ndoleliire, director of the institute, said since its inception last year, they have received a good response from the public with 25 students currently studying Chinese at degree level, 30 in second year and another 30 in first year.
“We are expecting six more and another twenty for secondary schools, the government of China will pay for those teachers,” Prof Ndoleliire said.
The country was recently hit by a national report that suggested that 80% of primary school teachers could not read and count. ‘‘Teachers who qualified from Primary Teachers’ Colleges can neither read nor solve basic primary-level mathematics questions,’‘ the report noted.
Source: Joshua Namanya /Chimpreports
