A Confucius Classroom has been opened by the former Governor General Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO at Indooroopilly State High School in Brisbane.
Sponsored by the Confucius Institute at The University of Queensland, the classroom facilitates Chinese language and culture and provides students with opportunities to study Mandarin and learn about Chinese history, culture and traditions.
This is the fourth such classroom to open in Queensland and is part of the Institute’s goal to facilitate language and cultural learning at the school level.
The Director of UQ’s Confucius Institute Professor Ping Chen said the Institute had developed strong links with high schools.
“Confucius Classrooms such as this one at Indooroopilly State High School will no doubt contribute to the understanding of Chinese language and culture amongst high school students, and the Confucius Institute at UQ is very pleased to support this initiative,” he said.
“In addition to Australia’s already very strong trade relationship with China, we are seeing a wide range of Sino-Australian collaboration across a number of areas including culture, education and training,” Professor Chen added.
The principal of Indooroopilly State High Mrs. Lois O’Reilly said the school had a long relationship with the Confucius Institute.
“The establishment of a Confucius Classroom is a symbol of the importance of Chinese language and cultural studies at our school and will bring broader opportunities for students through the enhanced resources and program support provided,” she said.
UQ’s Confucius Institute has plans to set up more Confucius Classrooms in Queensland schools with a particular focus in areas of low socio-economic status.
The other three Confucius Classrooms in Queensland are at Innisfail’s Good Counsel College, Lourdes Hill College in Brisbane and St. Andrews College, Cairns.
