A number of programme successes were highlighted, including the highly popular Year of the Snake Poster Competition, which received an incredible 8846 entries from schools across Northern Ireland and SWC Confucius Hub partner schools claiming 6/10 prizes in Key Stage 1, 6/10 prizes in Key Stage 2 and one prize in Key Stage 3/Post Primary.
Linda Beatty, Confucius Hub Project Officer, expressed her delight at the event, stating:
“South West College's annual celebration of Chinese New Year is a highlight for us every year, bringing together students, teachers, and guests to foster academic, cultural, and social ties between Northern Ireland and China. While the main event was hosted at Omagh campus, our Confucius Hub has also been active in partner schools, allowing children to deepen their understanding of Chinese culture and traditions.”
“The growth of our Mandarin Chinese Language & Culture classes in our partner schools across counties Tyrone, Fermanagh, Armagh, and Down has been remarkable, with 50 schools engaged on the programme and enrolments for 2024/25 exceeding 5300.”
“The British Council's report, 'Languages for the Future,' further emphasises the importance of Mandarin as a key language for the UK's future, highlighting the need for cultural understanding and global awareness among young people.”
“Any school interested in offering Mandarin Chinese classes can benefit from free tuition, resources, and dedicated support provided by South West College Confucius Hub. Evening classes are also available at our campuses in Omagh, Enniskillen, and Dungannon.”
For more information, contact Linda Beatty at linda.beatty@swc.ac.uk or 028 8225 5220.