Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has said that Chinese will be offered as Leaving Cert subject in the future.
This was announced in Portlaoise yesterday at the official unveiling of a transition-year course on Chinese language and culture. This transistion-year module combines language lessons with the study of traditional and modern Chinese culture. Over 22 secondary schools are already studying Chinese language and culture as part of their curriculums, and all of these schools had representatives present yesterday.
Although he stopped short of mentioning a specific date for the inclusion of Chinese in the Leaving Cert, Mr Quinn said he hoped the transition-year course would “whet the appetite for students to study Chinese for the Leaving Cert”.
He also announced an optional short course on Chinese language and culture which will be made available as part of the new Junior Cert cycle programme from 2014.
He said that:
The Minister went on to add that:
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