This week I have browsed through the Chinese government’s relevant documents and reports on minority language education.
The summary is as follows:
Circular of the General Office of the Ministry of Education: Programme of Action for Deepening the Reform of Basic Education
教育部办公厅关于印发《基础教育课程教学改革深化行动方案》的通知 – 中华人民共和国教育部政府门户网站 (moe.gov.cn)
1.Great freedom for provinces, cities and autonomous regions.
The Chinese government has indicated that in the future, provincial education administrations will effectively implement the main responsibility for curriculum construction and management, and clarify local and school responsibilities. Based on the national curriculum programme, overall planning will be carried out for the implementation of national, local and school-based curricula for compulsory education and the implementation of compulsory, optional compulsory and elective curricula for ordinary senior secondary schools respectively, with emphasis on granting autonomy to localities and schools in curriculum implementation.
2.Developing school plans for curriculum implementation.
Schools shall, with the goal of promoting the comprehensive and individual development and healthy growth of students, implement the national curriculum with high quality, build school-based curricula, and pay attention to the integrated implementation of local and school-based curricula; on the basis of guaranteeing that all the compulsory curricula are fully opened and opened well in general high schools, they shall pay attention to adapting to the strengths and development needs of the students, and provide elective curricula with stratified classification and rich and diversified contents, so that a series of curricula reflecting the characteristics of the schools can be formed.
The “13th Five-Year Plan” for Minority Languages of China:
国家民委关于印发“十三五”少数民族语言文字工作规划的通知_国务院部门文件_中国政府网 (www.gov.cn)
1.Basic principles
Adhering to the law, vigorously promoting and standardising the use of the common national languages and scripts, and guaranteeing the freedom of all ethnic groups to use and develop their own languages and scripts; adhering to the principle of seeking truth from facts, providing guidance in a categorical manner, and promoting the scientific development of work in minority languages and scripts; and encouraging ethnic groups to learn from each other’s languages and scripts, so as to facilitate the harmonious development of inter-ethnic relations.
2.Promote the rule of law in the spoken and written languages of ethnic minorities.
Strengthening the legal system for minority languages and scripts, and safeguarding the freedom of all ethnic groups to use and develop their own languages and scripts. All regions concerned will promote the standardisation, rule of law and scientific process of ethnic minority language work in accordance with the actual situation.
3. Strengthen the construction of bilingual talent people
Participate in the work of bilingual education. In coordination with the relevant departments, promote bilingual education in a scientific and steady manner. In accordance with the law, following the rules and combining them with the actual situation, unswervingly promote education in the national common language and script, and enhance the ability and level of ethnic minority students in mastering and using the national common language and script. The rights of ethnic minorities to receive education in their own languages and scripts are respected and safeguarded, and the standard of teaching in ethnic minority languages and scripts is constantly being raised.
From the series of documents I have excerpted, 1)the protection of minority languages has been an important task in China’s education planning in recent years. 2)The local government and schools with greater power ensure the smooth development and implementation of the localised curriculum. It is in favour of the implementation and development of my project:)
