The Department of Education, Innovation and Gender Relations will be offering Mandarin classes to students who have made application for the 2020 Taiwan Scholarship programme. The programme which is facilitated by the Government of Taiwan, commences today, Wednesday May 27, 2020. Embracing the limitations brought about by the COVID-19 response, the classes will be delivered virtually.

Registrants will be exposed to approximately eight hours of Mandarin. Classes will be held twice a week, with sessions each day from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and another from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. These arrangements will allow student to take the class at a time most convenient for them.

Learning Mandarin will present prospective students an opportunity to learn about the Taiwanese culture. The classes are meant to foster an appreciation for the food, music, movies, dance and history of the prospective host country, thereby making it easier to accept and immerse themselves in the culture should they be award with a scholarship or for future interactions.

Mandarin is widely spoken in Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Philippines and Mongolia and thus provides an opportunity for participants to take advantage of the educational or business opportunities that emerges for these countries.

Interacting with different cultures brings new perspectives, provide for cultural richer experiences, and creates a more tolerant and empathetic citizens. It also helps develop critical thinking as well as foster creativity as a result of the exposure to new ways of doing things.

In the first instance, the programme will provide for approximately fifty (50) prospective students with a view of expanding the programme to the wider community.