Education Department fails to launch Chinese language programme

Education Department fails to launch Chinese language programme YASIR BABBAR The Sindh Education and Literacy Department has failed to launch 'Introduction of Chinese language programme' in schools and colleges of the province despite passage of more than one and a half months. The programme should have been launched on 1st March 2012, sources told Business Recorder on Saturday. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah approved the funding summary of the scheme in February 2010, while the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) earlier approved the PC-1 of the scheme in the first week of the same month, sources said. The Education and Literacy Department had moved the summary of the scheme to Syed Qaim Ali Shah for the approval of initially required funding of Rs 597.885 million, sources said. After the approval of funding summary, the Planning and Development wing of Education and Literacy Department had made the feasibility report of the Chinese programme but it could not be implemented as yet, sources said. According to PC-1 obtained by Business Recorder, 'Introduction of Chinese language programme' should have been launched in March 2012. PC-1 further stated: the execution authority of this programme would be Directorate of Chinese Language Programme, sources added in this regard that the education department has not established the said directorate which had to be made also after the approval of funding summary. "Since Pakistan came into being, it has good relations with China. The relations between both the countries have strengthened with the passage of time. The main objective of this project is to introduce Chinese Language Courses to all students of each level throughout Sindh province in order to provide basic knowledge of the language for entering to extensive business, economic and cultural relations with the new economic giant of today's world, PC-1 mentioned." China is the oldest and most populous nation in the world, with 1.28 billion people. One fifth of the planet speaks Chinese language. Mandarin language is the mother tongue of over 873 million people of China, making it the most widely spoken first language in the world, PC-1 further stated. In addition to the People's Republic of China and Taiwan, Mandarin is also spoken in the important and influential Chinese communities of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, and Mongolia. China is the second largest economy in the world. China will play a major role in world affairs in the future, PC-1 mentioned. A senior official told this scribe that the Education and Literacy Department has appointed a Consultant to initiate this scheme but many other important issues have not been resolved as yet that's why the scheme was being delayed. He hoped that the Chinese language programme would be introduced in the first week of May this year. (Daily Business Recorder)