Gideon Tumwijukye | Tayari News
KABALE – Chinese language teachers in Kabale District have urged the government to prioritize the subject and provide adequate support.
The 2026 celebrations are held under the theme “Chinese: Sparking Colorful Dreams,” highlighting the language’s growing importance in global communication, cultural exchange, and technological advancement.
Despite rising interest among learners in Uganda, teachers say Chinese language education remains underfunded and largely unsupported by the government.
Agnes Nyinamatsiko, a Chinese language teacher at Kigezi High School, says enrollment in Chinese classes has been steadily increasing. However, she notes that the lack of government recognition for teachers is a major challenge.
“We have many students who are eager to learn Chinese because they see opportunities in international jobs and business. However, the government has not yet placed Chinese teachers on the payroll like other language teachers, which makes it difficult for us to fully commit and expand the program,” she said.
Nyinamatsiko also cited a shortage of essential teaching materials, including computers configured in Chinese and updated textbooks.
“Teaching Chinese requires specialized materials, including software and textbooks that are not easily accessible. Without these, both teachers and learners face serious challenges in mastering the language,” she added.
The Kigezi High School headteacher, Abraham Akampurira, echoed similar concerns, saying schools are struggling to sustain the subject financially.
“As a school, we recognize the importance of Chinese in today’s global economy, but sustaining the salaries of teachers without government support is a big challenge. We appeal to the government to step in and support schools offering this subject,” Akampurira said.
At Kabale Trinity College, Chinese language teacher Sadick Wamara called for the introduction of government-sponsored programs to promote the subject and attract more learners.“
If the government can introduce scholarships or sponsored programs, more students will be encouraged to take up Chinese. Right now, interest is there, but the support system is still very weak,” Wamara said.
He emphasized the need for increased resource allocation to expand Chinese language education across the country.
Meanwhile, Norbert Nowamani, also a Chinese language teacher at the same institution, highlighted challenges in teaching and assessment, particularly due to the complexity of Chinese writing.
Nowamani further urged the government to introduce Chinese language programs at tertiary institutions, noting that many job opportunities requiring Chinese language skills remain unfilled.
“There are many job opportunities in trade, tourism, and international relations that require Chinese speakers. Unfortunately, we do not have enough qualified people because the training system is still limited,” he said.