NaCCA trains teachers to implement new Chinese language curriculum

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) recently conducted a national training workshop to prepare basic school teachers to implement the new Chinese language curriculum. The Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) organized the training at their Institute of Education. At the opening ceremony, NaCCA's Deputy Director, Dr Eric Amoah, emphasized the importance of the partnership between NaCCA and the Confucius Institute at UCC, stating that this collaboration would bolster curriculum development and promote language learning, cultural exchange, and international cooperation.

He added that the new Chinese language curriculum would prepare Ghanaian learners for a globally connected world by equipping them with essential language and cultural skills.

Dr Amoah emphasized that the training program would equip teachers with the necessary knowledge, skills, and confidence to effectively deliver the curriculum. He called upon the participants to actively engage in the training, share knowledge, and embrace continuous improvement, ultimately encouraging them to act as ambassadors of change and help develop globally minded citizens.

Professor Daniel Agyapong, Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, urged Chinese language instructors to teach Ghanaian local languages alongside Chinese. He highlighted that while Ghanaian students were diligently learning Chinese, Chinese instructors should also promote cultural exchange by introducing students to Ghanaian languages and traditions.

The Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at UCC, Prof Zang Yonghong, noted the importance of the training in equipping teachers with the knowledge and skills needed to teach Chinese to young learners effectively. She detailed the institute's journey since its establishment in 2008, including its approval by Hanban in 2015 and launch in 2016. She described the institute as a center for language learning, cultural exchange, academic collaborations, and community engagement.

The training consisted of six sessions, focusing on various aspects of the new Chinese language curriculum. The first session, led by NaCCA's Head of Curriculum, Mr Reginald Quartey, provided an overview of the Kindergarten and Primary Curriculum Review 2026. Subsequent sessions explored the curriculum's background, philosophy, structure, and content, as well as pedagogical exemplars and assessment rubrics.

Participants then divided into groups to practice teaching and learning activities based on the new curriculum, culminating in a final session focusing on the role of Chinese language coordinators in strengthening school-parent-teacher partnerships for effective Chinese language education in Ghana.