CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE KNUST INAUGURATES 1ST CHINESE LANGUAGE TEACHING CENTER AT KNUST BASIC SCHOOL

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Confucius

The Confucius Institute, KNUST has opened her first Chinese Language Teaching Center at the KNUST Basic School. The inauguration took place at the Assembly Hall of the Basic School on March 27, 2024.

It will be recalled that on December 19, 2023, KNUST, Hubei University of Automotive Technology, and Chinese International Education Fund, signed a tripartite agreement that marked the official commencement of Confucius Institute KNUST at the Great Hall.

In her welcome address, Rev. Mrs. Irene Nkansah, the Head, indicated that Basic School was ready for the center and highlighted the importance of learning other languages. Mr. William Brako Agyapong, standing in for the Regional Director of Education, congratulated the Basic School on this achievement and wished them well.

The Special Guest, Hon. Simon Osei Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, indicated that the Centre marks a good development since children, who are the future of Ghana, would have an opportunity to learn another international language and that languages are bridges that connect people of different nationalities.

The Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute, KNUST, Prof. Su Zibo expressed deep satisfaction with the warm welcome he had received so far in Ghana. He expressed his desire to build the bridge to connect China to Ghana by promoting the learning of Chinese language whilst the Chinese learn about Ghana.

Prof. Charles Marfo, Provost of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, who stood in for the Pro Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ellis Owusu Dabo, mentioned the importance the Chinese government attached to collaborations between China and Ghana. He however cautioned that whilst we teach the students about Chinese language and culture, we must not forget about the Akan language and culture. He added that management of the university was happy with the progress made so far by the Confucius Institute KNUST. The more children learn new languages, the smarter they become, thus encouraging all to learn a new language, he ended.

In his closing remarks, Prof. Daniel Y. A. Duah, the Dean of the International Programmes Office and Ghanaian Director of the Confucius Institute at KNUST was grateful to all for their support in the inauguration of the first Chinese Language Teaching Centre at KNUST. Following the signing of the MOU between KNUST and Confucius Institute KNUST, he encouraged all to take advantage of the benefits of the center as we position ourselves to surmount the challenges of the next generation.

There were very good performances by the Basic School’s Cultural and Choreography Groups, and Baduanjin and chorus from the Confucius Institute, KNUST.