The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) has organised a national training workshop to equip basic school teachers with the knowledge and skills required to effectively implement Ghana’s new Chinese language curriculum.
The training was initiated by the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and held at the Conference Room of the Institute of Education.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Director of NaCCA, Dr Eric Amoah, said the partnership between NaCCA and the Confucius Institute at UCC would strengthen curriculum development while creating opportunities for language learning, cultural exchange and international collaboration.
He said the new Chinese language curriculum was designed to prepare Ghanaian learners for an increasingly globalised world by developing their language abilities and understanding of other cultures.
According to Dr Amoah, the training would give teachers the knowledge, practical skills and confidence needed to effectively deliver the new curriculum.
“Let us move forward hand in hand to build a legacy of learning and partnership that will endure for generations,” he said.
He urged participants to actively engage in the sessions, share knowledge and embrace continuous professional improvement.
Dr Amoah also encouraged teachers to become ambassadors of change and contribute to the development of inclusive, globally minded citizens.
Chinese Instructors Urged to Promote Ghanaian Languages
The Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, Professor Daniel Agyapong, urged Chinese language instructors to incorporate Ghanaian local languages and traditions into their teaching.
He noted that while Ghanaian students were making significant efforts to learn Chinese language and culture, Chinese instructors should also promote two-way cultural exchange by exposing learners to Ghanaian languages and traditions.
He said such an approach would help deepen mutual understanding between the two cultures.
Confucius Institute Highlights Growth
In her welcome address, the Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at UCC, Prof Zang Yonghong, stressed the importance of the training in preparing teachers to effectively teach Chinese to young learners.
She traced the institute’s development from its establishment in 2008, through its approval by Hanban in December 2015, to its official launch in June 2016.
Prof Zang described the institute as the result of a sustained partnership involving UCC, its Chinese partner university and the Chinese Embassy.
She said the institute had grown into a vibrant centre for language learning, cultural exchange, academic collaboration and community engagement.
The Ghana Director of the Confucius Institute at UCC, Prof Emmanuel Amo Ofori, also urged participants to apply the knowledge and skills gained from the workshop to improve teaching and learning, particularly as schools begin implementing the new curriculum.
Six Sessions Held
The training programme comprised six sessions designed to familiarise participants with the new Chinese language curriculum and strengthen their capacity to implement it effectively.
The first session, led by NaCCA’s Head of Curriculum, Mr Reginald Quartey, focused on the Kindergarten and Primary Curriculum Review 2026. It provided participants with an overview of the review and its relevance to basic education.
The second session, facilitated by Ms Anastasia Emefa Awudzah of the Confucius Institute at UCC, examined the background, philosophy and structure of the new Chinese language curriculum.
The third session, led by Mr Charles Delali Adegah of CI-UCC, focused on curriculum content and the expected Chinese language proficiency levels of learners.
Participants were taken through the knowledge and language competencies they are expected to develop under the new curriculum.
The fourth session, facilitated by Mr Yu Zhen of the Confucius Institute at UCC, focused on pedagogical exemplars and assessment rubrics, providing teachers with practical approaches to teaching and assessing Chinese language learners.
Teachers Put Learning Into Practice
For the fifth session, participants were divided into three groups to practise teaching and learning activities based on the new curriculum.
The practical exercise allowed teachers to apply the knowledge, methodologies and approaches acquired during the training.
The final session examined the role of the Chinese language coordinator in strengthening school-parent-teacher partnerships to support effective Chinese language education in Ghana.
The session, led by Mr Robert Quayenor Odametey, highlighted the importance of collaboration among schools, parents and teachers in creating an effective learning environment for Chinese language education.
