Over 15 million young people in Africa, around 13.5 percent of the total labor force of 15-24 years, are facing unemployment and this rate is more than twice the unemployment rate of those aged 25 and over (6.1 percent), underlining that unemployment on the continent is hitting the younger generation hardest. Young women are even more severely affected, with an unemployment rate of 14.7 percent compared to 12.3 percent for young men, according to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation's 2019 Forum Report.
However, Zambia's all-weather friendship with China, which dates back to over 50 years, has translated into massive progress in all sectors of the Southern African country's economic development - be it in construction, health, education, and agriculture, among others.
Rising Chinese popularity
China's socio-economic, financial and cultural ties with Zambia have prompted the need for literacy in the Chinese language. While the Asian economic giant has expanded its exchanges in language and culture with African countries (and elsewhere) by supporting the establishment of Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms, language education policies in Zambia has been proactive and receptive to the emerging needs and demands in Chinese language and culture.
Since China is a major trade partner and investor in Africa, many countries are encouraging their citizens to learn what is considered by many to be the language of the future. Zambia is no exception.
"Learning Chinese language motivates me to reach my goal in life. My aim, after I finish this course, is to become an accomplished interpreter knowing that the profession is currently in high demand among several Chinese companies in Zambia," said Armstrong Sezongo, a second-year Chinese language student at the Confucius Institute of the University of Zambia (UNZA).
Emelia Mwale, 36, an entrepreneur at Lusaka's Comesa Market, said the introduction of the Chinese language course in the country will open up opportunities for traders such as herself to do business effectively, as communication with her Chinese suppliers of goods is usually a challenge.
"I intend to enroll and study Chinese at the Confucius Institute at the UNZA. This language is vital and since we are in a global village, any commercial activity will be easier to undertake as I will be able to interact with my Chinese suppliers of goods effectively," said Mwale.
For this and other reasons, the growing popularity of the Chinese language among Zambian youths and the working population in the formal or informal sectors has inspired policymakers to include the language in the national curriculum for schools.
On May 7, 2019, the Zambian Government entered into an agreement with the Confucius Institute Headquarters of China to officially introduce the Chinese language as a taught and examinable subject at both junior and senior secondary school level.
The Ministry of Higher Education Permanent Secretary Mabvuto Sakala recently signed the agreement on behalf of the government at the Confucius Institute Headquarters in Beijing, China.
Meanwhile, Zambia's Ministry of General Education started implementing the teaching of Chinese as a foreign language in 10 pilot schools, which were carefully identified and selected in each province.
"The introduction of the Chinese language in the Zambian education system will not only strengthen the current bilateral relationship, but will also increase bilateral exchanges between the two countries," said Sakala.
Opportunities for the taking
Some stakeholders such as the Teaching Council of Zambia (TCZ) recently welcomed government's move, arguing that the introduction of the Chinese language should not scare Zambians, as it was a blessing to those students who have aspirations of studying in Chinese universities.
TCZ Registrar Ebby Mubanga said since Zambia is part of the global village, the introduction of the Chinese language is going to bring value to the country's education system.
Students at UNZA’s Confucius Institute during a Chinese lesson for 2020 academic year (Photos: Derrick Silimina)
Prior to this development, many Zambians who have expressed interest in learning Chinese language by virtue of their academic background while studying in China, have not only benefited from the country's academic excellence, but also its language which is spreading rapidly across the globe.
Locally, many students who graduated from the Confucius Institute and other Chinese schools in the country have earned themselves jobs as interpreters in key Chinese organizations, as well as at the Chinese Embassy in Lusaka.
For example, companies such as Hongsen Investment Ltd., a Chinese firm located in Lusaka's Makeni Industrial Area, which runs a manufacturing plant that recycles plastic bottles into finished plastic wares such as dishes, cups, hang sticks, sweeping brooms and buckets, has employed a Zambian youth Thandiwe Chaaba as its administration officer.
Thanks to her eloquence in the Chinese language, Chaaba has been running the company's local operations for over four years and also acts as a link between her employers, business clients and local people.
"I am so grateful to authorities who made it possible to introduce the learning of Chinese language in the country," said Chaaba.
Realizing the potential the Chinese language has in the local job market, Chaaba enrolled for a refresher course at the Confucius Institute in 2018, a move that earned her the current position after her graduation. Learning Chinese as a second or third language has been a global trend in the last few years. In Zambia, the rapid increase of Chinese investments and trade has spurred the move.
At UNZA's Confucius Institute, Chinese lessons for the 2020 academic year include level one to level six and students are taught from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (daytime class) and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (evening class).
Confucius Institute Deputy Director Zhang Run said there are over 1,000 Chinese companies, both state-owned and private, who have investments in Zambia and the language gives most learners a boost when it comes to job offers.
"In fact, every day, these companies call for employees who can speak the Chinese language, which is an added advantage to doing administrative work, including human resources, secretarial work or even customer relations," said Zhang.
"The introduction of the Chinese language here is vital, as it will contribute to the development of Zambia and further enhance strong bilateral ties between our two countries, as well as help eliminate misunderstanding between the two peoples," said Zhang.
Reporting from Zambia
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