A classroom to enable young people to learn Mandarin was officially opened at Clober Primary School in Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire last week (Friday). The Clober Primary Confucius Classroom Hub will serve the local community and give pupils the chance to learn Mandarin. It will be a resource for children across the area to study and engage with Chinese language and culture.
To mark the launch of the Confucius Classroom staff and pupils organised a fun programme of pupil performances, speeches and the official presentation of the Confucius Classroom plaque.
Fhiona Mackay, Director, Scotland’s National Centre for Languages and Confucius Institute for Scotland’s Schools said, “Hosting a Primary Confucius Classroom Hub at Clober Primary School will consolidate the excellent work of the East Dunbartonshire Confucius Classroom Secondary Hub based at St Ninian’s High School, established almost a decade ago. Clober Primary School will be able to bring the learning of Mandarin and Chinese culture to a wider audience and offer this exciting learning experience to young learners around East Dunbartonshire.
Ann Davie, the Council’s Depute Chief Executive for Education, People & Business said, “This Hub within Clober Primary is an excellent addition to our resources and will further enhance the learning of young people in the area. We all understand the value of learning languages and understanding the cultures of other countries in equipping young people for life in a global marketplace. This is another product of our continuing partnership with Scotland’s National Centre for Languages.”
Head Teacher of Clober Primary, Catriona Anderson, added, “We are delighted to launch the Confucius Classroom at Clober. Our pupils really enjoy learning about Chinese culture and are very enthusiastic about sharing their language skills. As our classroom grows and flourishes, we will aim to support primary schools across East Dunbartonshire to develop the teaching of Mandarin.”
East Dunbartonshire Council has already developed some very interesting programmes for the learning and teaching of Chinese language and culture with their award winning Secondary Confucius Classroom Hub based at St Ninian’s High School in Kirkintilloch. A Confucius Classroom at Clober Primary School will help consolidate the good work that has been started there and will support the further development of Mandarin in other primary schools throughout the East Dunbartonshire area.