Chinese Language Curriculum Launched for All Levels of Ghanaian Schools

Ghana has officially launched a Chinese language curriculum for basic, junior high and senior high schools. The launch was done by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) during the 10th anniversary celebration of the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), together with the 2025 Chinese Ambassador’s Awards ceremony.

The event brought together education officials, traditional leaders, diplomats and academics to celebrate ten years of Chinese language teaching and cultural exchange in Ghana.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General of NaCCA, Prof. Samuel Ofori Bekoe, said the introduction of the Chinese language into Ghanaian schools is an important step in preparing students for the global job market. He explained that education today goes beyond learning English and local languages, adding that students also need to understand other cultures and languages to succeed internationally.

He said NaCCA introduced the curriculum because of China’s growing influence in the global economy and its strong development partnership with Ghana. According to him, the curriculum was developed with support from the Confucius Institute at UCC to ensure proper teaching methods and cultural relevance.

The new Chinese language curriculum focuses on communication skills rather than memorisation. It is designed to fit Ghanaian values and aligns with international Chinese language standards, while also matching Ghana’s Common Core Programme. NaCCA believes the programme will help reduce language barriers in trade, diplomacy, technology and education between Ghana and China.

Prof. Bekoe stressed that the success of the programme will depend on proper implementation and teacher training. He encouraged the Confucius Institute to continue training Ghanaian teachers to teach the language effectively.

The Central Regional Director of Education, Dr. Juliet Dufie Otamie, said education and culture play a key role in strengthening relations between Ghana and China. She noted that many students have gained valuable skills and international opportunities through the Confucius Institute.

The Ghana Director of the Confucius Institute, Prof. Emmanuel Amo Ofori, shared the history of the institute, from its early planning stages to its official launch in 2016. He said the institute has trained thousands of students, supported cultural exchange programmes and helped businesses working with Chinese partners.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Dennis Worlanyo Aheto, described the institute as one of the university’s most successful international partnerships. He said about 11,000 students benefit from the institute’s programmes each year, including pupils from basic schools. He added that the institute has also supported digital skills training, career fairs and scholarship opportunities.

A panel discussion at the event focused on training teachers to teach Chinese in Ghana, with calls for teacher training colleges to include Chinese language programmes.

Awards and citations were presented to current and former UCC leaders for their support of the Confucius Institute. Special honours were also given to students who performed well in Chinese language competitions, including Mafaatih Wunnam Alidu Cotachi, who emerged as the African champion in a global primary students’ competition.