The relationship between the Isle of Man and China is strengthened further with the creation of an Independent Confucius Classroom at Ballakermeen High School in Douglas.
The Classroom will offer the Island’s whole community the opportunity to study the language and culture of China.
The Island is developing a strong relationship with China, the world’s second largest economy. In April, Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK led the latest delegation of private sector representatives to China to promote the Island as an international business centre and generate business opportunities.
The coveted status of Independent Confucius Classroom has been awarded to Ballakermeen by Hanban, the Chinese National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, which is the headquarters of the Confucius Institute.
Confucius Classrooms are usually linked to Confucius Institutes, based in large educational establishments such as universities.
Only rarely, when there are strong links with a Chinese school, is an independent Classroom established. Ballakermeen’s long-standing relationship with the Number 1 School, Liuyang, Hunan Province, developed since 2006, has led to it being named the first Independent Confucius Classroom in the Crown Dependencies.
The Classroom will deliver exam courses to secondary students, cultural awareness programmes to primary pupils, cultural and language sessions to the business sector and community classes in Mandarin.
The resource was formally opened today by Mr Shen Yang, Minister Counsellor for Education at the Chinese Embassy in London.
Mr Shen was welcomed to Ballakermeen by Adrienne Burnett, Headteacher, and Keith James, Deputy Headteacher, who has been instrumental in gaining Confucius classroom status for the school.
The Chief Minister welcomed guests to the ceremony, saying:
‘Strengthening our relationship with China is an important part of our strategy to drive forward our economy and the opening of a Confucius Classroom in the Isle of Man is a welcome further link between our two countries.
‘The establishment of a Confucius Classroom is a great testimony to the strength of Ballakermeen’s links with its partner school in China and represents a remarkable achievement for the Island.
‘We are indebted to Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Mr Liu Xiaoming, for the role his embassy in London played in securing a Confucius Classroom for Ballakermeen and to Mr Shen Yang for formally opening the Classroom today.’
Mr Shen said:
‘As the Chinese economy has grown, so has demand to learn about our language and culture. Confucius Classrooms are a platform for cultural exchanges and a bridge for building friendship and cooperation between China and the world.
‘It is a symbol of the growing relationship between the Isle of Man and China that the Island is to have its own Independent Confucius Classroom.
‘It is a special pleasure that students and teachers from Number 1 School, who are making their annual exchange visit to Ballakermeen, are present at today’s opening.’
