Ghana is preparing to formally introduce the study of the Chinese language into basic schools nationwide beginning in early 2026, a government official has announced.
The Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), Mr. Vincent Assanful, made this known at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast (CIUCC).
According to Mr. Assanful, NaCCA has, over the past several months, engaged in high-level technical collaboration with officials of the Confucius Institute to develop a Chinese language curriculum for Ghana’s basic education system.
He disclosed that a draft curriculum has already been developed and carefully tailored to suit the Ghanaian context while preserving the originality of the Chinese language. The curriculum, he noted, is expected to be rolled out soon.
Mr. Assanful explained that the decision to formalize the teaching of Chinese at the basic level was informed by China’s growing influence as a global economic power and its role as a key development partner to Ghana.
He added that the proposed curriculum is competency-based, contextually adaptive and structurally sound, allowing it to fit seamlessly into Ghana’s Common Core Programme.
“When our children are well trained in the Chinese language, it will enhance Ghana’s engagement with China in trade, economics and global politics, ultimately benefiting the nation,” he stated.
Mr. Assanful further urged the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast to prioritize the professional development of local teachers to ensure they are well equipped to deliver the new curriculum, as NaCCA moves to finalize and hand over the policy document for implementation.
