Recognising China as an emerging, major global economy and Mandarin being spoken by a large section of the population of the world, the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) has added the language as an optional for students in Class 6 in schools affiliated to it.
Mr Vineet Joshi, chairman of the board, in a notification to all schools, said in order to cater to the diverse needs of students in a globalised world, Central Board for Secondary Education offers 32 languages at the secondary and senior secondary levels of which 12 are foreign languages.
As Mandarin is spoken by a large number of people, the Central Board for Secondary Education plans to teach Chinese in Class 6 from the next academic year. Eminent Mandarin scholars will develop the curriculum and textbooks besides training the teachers. Mr Joshi said once the students are trained in Mandarin, they will be able to use Mandarin Chinese in oral and written forms, build sensitivity and awareness regarding the culture and traditions of the Chinese and learn advanced levels on their own.