Catalan Gov't to Introduce Chinese Language in Public Schools

The education department of the government of Catalonia, northeastern Spain, has reached an agreement with the Confucius Institute of Barcelona Foundation (FICB) to introduce the Chinese language and culture in the region's public schools.

The two parties struck the deal during a meeting of the FICB with representatives from eight universities in Catalonia, which include the University of Lleida (UdL), Girona (UdG), Vic (UVic), Rovira i Virgili (URV), Barcelona (UB), Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).

Prior to the collaboration to extend the initiative to public education, the FICB had only been in talks with a private school and four semi-state-funded academic institutions. This is according to Zhao Xiaomeng, professor and coordinator of the FICB's official exams and its program, "Hola, China!"

In an interview with the Xinhua News Agency, Zhao said that "the relationship of the Confucius Institute with universities is very healthy [and] is very stable," adding that "there will be many more activities in the future."

Meanwhile, the university representatives have also agreed for more joint endeavors with the foundation in order to exchange experiences and promote collaboration.

"I want to form a Catalan magno Confucius, covering the whole area and collaborating with all the universities," Dr. Chang Shiru, the FICB director, said.

For the representatives of the University of Girona, the partnership with the FICB is a delightful experience. They also expressed their wish to "continue on the same line to make more contacts through the FICB with China."

Dr. Carles Sigales from the UOC also noted, "We surely can find ways of collaboration."

Additionally, Susana de Llobet of the Rovira I Virgili University's International Center remarked that "the door remains open to any kind of collaboration."