18-02-2025
Ministry of Education to launch Chinese language in four schools
Muscat: The Ministry of Education organised, over the past two days, an introductory meeting on the Chinese language. The meeting targeted students and their parents in schools that will implement the teaching of the Chinese language for the academic year 2025-2026, in the governorates of Muscat and Al Dakhiliyah.
The meeting included two presentations, the first entitled: "Teaching Chinese Language: A New Window to the Future in the Schools of the Sultanate of Oman" presented by specialists from the Foreign Languages Curricula Department at the Ministry. The presentation included an introduction to the Chinese language, and a cooperation plan with the International Exchange Center for Language Education of the Ministry of Education of China to teach Chinese language optionally in Sayyid Sultan bin Ahmed School (11-12) for Boys; Juwayriya bint Abi Sufyan School (9-12) for Girls in Al Amerat; Hay Al Turath School (9-12) for Boys; and Al Shatha bint Jaber School for Basic Education (9-12) for Girls in Nizwa. The presentation also addressed the inclusion of Chinese language in the 2025-2026 curriculum, and its introductory program targeting directors and vocational guidance specialists in the schools where it will be implemented, and a draft decision to form the main committee, and the working teams to select and harmonize Chinese language curricula and follow up on its teaching. The second presentation was given by Julie Lee, a Chinese language teacher at the American School in Muscat Governorate. The presentation included a practical lesson in the Chinese language for non-native speakers.
On teaching the Chinese language, Abdullah Al Balushi, Senior French Language Curriculum Specialist at the Foreign Languages Department, said: 'The ministry provides a unique experience in learning the Chinese language for students wishing to study it, as the program will be applied to grades 11 and 12 students optionally, and the subject will be taught by specialists in teaching the Chinese language to non-native speakers, who speak English besides the Chinese language; in addition to providing a simplified curriculum in line with the Omani cultural context; to achieve the goals set by the ministry on the one hand, and the approved linguistic framework for the levels in the Chinese language on the other hand. The ministry will also provide educational tools, curriculum enhancement, and enrichment learning resources that support the curriculum, including printed and electronic materials. The Chinese language is currently being applied in a number of private schools in the Sultanate of Oman, and students' results and academic achievement are high.'
