Recently at the 2025 World Chinese Language Conference this November, CGTN's Merna Al Nasser spoke with Salim Mohammed Abdullah Al Kharousi, director of the Department of Human Sciences at the Omani Ministry of Education. They discussed a landmark initiative: introducing Chinese language classes in Omani secondary schools for the first time.
The pilot program, launched this academic year, rolled out Chinese for Grade 11 students across several schools. In just a few weeks, students have already shown strong enthusiasm, viewing Chinese as a gateway to future opportunities in technology, industry and international cooperation.
"For our youth, Chinese is becoming a bridge to new skills, new industries and a more connected future," Al Kharousi said. He noted that interest in Chinese is rising not only in Oman but across the Middle East and beyond, fueling a growing global competition to learn the language.
Al Kharousi expressed appreciation to China for supporting Oman's Chinese language program and said he hopes to expand the initiative in the coming years, aiming to equip more young Omanis with the tools needed in a digitized and interconnected world.
Reference(s):
Omani education official: Chinese is becoming a key skill for youth
cgtn.com
