More than 250 educators from 20 African countries began a two-day regional seminar in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, on Friday, aimed at improving Chinese language teaching standards across the continent.
The special training, guided by the International Chinese Language Education Standards (Africa), brought together government officials, university professors, and educators to align regional teaching practices with international standards.
The event, which attracted both in-person and virtual participants, was jointly organized by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under China’s Ministry of Education and the University of Nairobi.
In his opening remarks, John Mande, deputy vice-chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Nairobi, highlighted the importance of aligning local teaching practices with international frameworks while tailoring them to African educational needs.
He said Kenya is committed to ensuring students develop strong Chinese language competencies and earn internationally recognized qualifications, while equipping teachers with practical tools to improve their daily instruction.
Faith Wanjiku Mworia, chairperson of the Chinese Language Teachers Association of Kenya, emphasized that African educators must adapt to updated international standards that expand proficiency levels across beginner, intermediate, and advanced tiers.
She said the training’s primary goal is to familiarize local educators with these revised grading benchmarks and enhance their qualifications to better serve African students.
Wang Shangxue, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting local teacher training and deepening educational cooperation.
Wang added that Chinese language proficiency plays a crucial role in strengthening economic and cultural ties between China and Africa by opening up new employment and trade opportunities. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
