Principal’s Overview | 25
CI Team working on the CCSLC Mandarin Syllabus
Classes at Primary and Secondary Schools Classes were conducted smoothly and in compliance with the national COVID-19 guidelines at the Ellerslie Secondary School, the Charles F Broome Memorial and the St Stephen’s Primary Schools, without any significant disruptions. The academic year for the schools began in September 2021, with remote classes being held initially. However, face-to- face instruction resumed in late February 2022. Much of the work to activate the Sister School/E-Pal initiative between the Changsha Lushan International Experimental Primary School in China, Hunan province and the Charles F Broome Memorial Primary School remains to be done at the Barbados end. During the Easter recess from April 11-22, 2022, and the summer period (July 18 – August 5, 2022), CI teachers conducted preparatory classes for the students at the schools, aimed at addressing this shortfall. The Embassy of China funded the purchase of equipment and supplies (computers, surge protectors, printers, AC units and a tent) valued at aproximately BBD 32,000, which were greatly needed by the St Stephen’s Primary School to support teaching. This followed enquiries made by the CI with the Embassy on the prospects of support being given to teaching at the school. The St Stephen’s Primary School is one of the first schools at which the CI taught Chinese.
the course through their various networks. It is anticipated that the course could be offered as early as Semester II, 2022-2023. Work on Mandarin Syllabus with the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) The CI continues to collaborate with the CXC on the introduction of the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) Mandarin syllabus. Following meetings with the CI and CXC teams, a clear path was established to revive and finalise the initial phase of the syllabus’ development. The focus was on ensuring the qual- ification’s portability, which entailed aligning the CCSLC Mandarin Certificate with the internationally-recognised standards for Mandarin certification set by the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK). The CI mobilised its teachers to review the draft curriculum (on which work was suspended in late 2019), and the CI team, accompanied by staff of the CXC, completed the work in record time (mid-June). The draft was then submitted to the HSK Test Centre, which provided a positive assessment of the document, affirming that it was closely linked to the primary level of the HSK (HSK 1 to 2), and that its fit was very good. Upon the completion of the curriculum review process by the CXC, the subsequent phase will involve the continuous assistance of the CI in creating the necessary examination materials, based on the Mandarin Curriculum in the CCSLC.
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES CAVE HILL CAMPUS ANNUAL REPORT TO COUNCIL 2021/2022
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