[NYTr] Panama schools to teach Chinese

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

BBC - Dec 6, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7131205.stm

Panama schools to teach Chinese

Panama is moving to make the teaching of Mandarin compulsory in all
schools, in recognition of China's growing importance in the world
economy.

The Panamanian National Assembly has given conditional approval to the
bill in the first of three debates.

The bill's supporters say boosting the number of Chinese speakers will
help increase Panama's competitiveness.

China is the biggest single user of the Panama Canal that connects the
Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

The bill's supporters recognise that English is the international
language of business but say that with China's increasing economic
influence, Mandarin is set to be an indispensable language.

Panama has important commercial links with China, with bilateral trade
running at $1bn (£500m).

The Central American nation also has diplomatic links with Taiwan, one
of the few countries to do so.

The proposed legislation sets out a timeframe of 10 years for Mandarin
to be taught in all schools.

The legislation proposes allowing the immigration of specialist Chinese
teachers to help train local teachers.

© BBC MMVII