Two local public primary schools recently were the recipients of the 2020 Chinese Ambassador’s Award.
This was separately presented to the St. Stephen’s Primary School and Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School during virtual ceremonies held last Wednesday morning.
It was explained by Co-Director at the Confucius Institute at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, David Bulbulia that this “is the first time, certainly as far as we are aware where the [Chinese] Ambassador’s Award has been extended to schools.”
He said previously “it was extended to students enrolled in the Chinese language programmes here at the university” but on this occasion, it is also being given to the primary schools where Chinese language and culture is being taught.
In his address during the ceremonies, Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China in Barbados, Yan Xiusheng congratulated students of both schools on the progress they have made in learning Mandarin. He asked them to build on the knowledge gained.
“I encourage you to learn more from your Chinese teachers, to practise more with whomever can speak Chinese, including me of course, to explore and experience China with what you have mustered, gradually building up your professional skills and widening your international advising and I hope that the Chinese Ambassador’s Award can help in this regard.”
He also asked them to “please never forget why you started to learn Chinese or another new language. You are supposed to become an official ambassador to build a bridge between different cultures to know each other better, to work with people from all over the world to create a better life for all countries and people on this planet and to build a community with a shared future for mankind.”
In his remarks, Principal of St. Stephen’s Primary, Dr. Collin Cumberbatch said this year the school faced many unforeseen challenges and during the national lockdown, Mandarin classes could not be facilitated. This however was rectified when face-to-face classes resumed in later months.
Dr. Cumberbatch used the occasion to request that material on Chinese language and culture be provided in the virtual reality format. He said these will be used in the school’s virtual reality classroom. He additionally in his addressed voiced his support of Chinese language being taught at St. Stephen’s.
“The teaching of Mandarin in this school has featured prominently for five years and as long as the facilitators are available, I pledge to ensure that it remains a part of the curricular offerings in this school for many, many years to come. Your donation this morning will not only help us provide materials and equipment for the effective delivery of the curricular content in Mandarin but also, in the other subject areas as well.”
Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary’s Principal, Dr. Monica Walton similarly shared her support of Mandarin being taught at that school. In her remarks, she also spoke about the Global E-pals Initiative which the school is hoping to start in 2021.
“Ambassador and Mr. Bulbulia, you can help us with this one because we are looking at communicating with schools in China. For our students to have e-pals, or what was commonly known as pen pals, with students of similar ages in China and they can communicate [during] some virtual sessions we will hope to have, as well as a via email and so on.”