Confucius Institute launches first ever Chinese test centre in Uganda
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E-mail Xinhua, August 17, 2017
KAMPALA, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Confucius Institute at Makerere University in Uganda's capital Kampala on Wednesday launched the first Ever Chinese Test Center which will enable Ugandans to do international examinations.
The center, launched by Chu Maoming, deputy Chinese ambassador to Uganda, will be used to test Chinese language proficiency as well as Chinese language speaking proficiency for business use and youth. It will also offer foreign language test and certified overseas Chinese tests.
Chu said the center will cut the travel costs of Ugandans going to the neighboring Kenya to do Chinese assessment test.
The Chinese language test is an international standardized test of Chinese language proficiency, which assesses non-native Chinese speaker's abilities in using the language in their daily, academic and professional lives.
Chu said that 60 Ugandan students have been offered full government sponsorship to go and study in China starting this academic year.
"China has been providing scholarships. We have a lot of students going to study in China on full scholarship," said Chu.
"The center is going to be useful to Ugandans. They are going to sit the international exams here. The exams will be sent to China for marking and grading," said Prof. Oswald Ndoleriire, Ugandan Confucius Institute director.
Prof. Edward Kirumira, principal of college of humanities and social sciences, Makerere University said the launch of the test center is a testimony of good bilateral relationship between Uganda and Chinese governments.
"We appreciate the support given to the Confucius Institute. You are allowing Makerere University to feed in China-Uganda bilateral relationship," said Kirumira.
"We are seeing Ugandans embedding and being part of the relationship by learning and testing for Chinese language. We look forward to great collaboration and relationship," he said.
"This center will serve the people of Uganda to do the international examinations at their convenience and later tap in the benefits associated with studying the Chinese language in Uganda," said Prof. Hong Yonghong, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute.
Henry Adramunguni, curriculum specialist in charge of foreign languages at the National Curriculum Development Center said that plans are under way to ensure the introduction of Chinese language at secondary school level.
"As a country, we are already preparing to ensure Chinese language is introduced in schools. Soon the curriculum for teaching Chinese will be ready," said Adramunguni.
"So far 30 teachers have been selected to be trained in Chinese language while five technical people from the national curriculum center are in China to learn Chinese," he said.
During the launch, the students participated in the Chinese speaking and answer competitions, walking away with various prizes.
The Confucius Institute was established in December 2014 with support from the Chinese government and Xiangtan University to offer credit courses in Chinese to Makerere University students, and short courses to staff and the general public interested in learning for all purposes.
It also is a centre for promoting cultural and business ties between the peoples of Uganda and China. Enditem
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