The Directorate of Education and Youth Services (DSEJ) says that schools have the autonomy to choose the language of instruction, and that mandarin classes have never been mandatory.
The organization defends that the academic requirements go through the “need for balance” with the Cantonese – who is said to have “great cultural wealth”.
In response to an interpellation written by Sulu Sou, from the Directorate of Education and Youth Services (DSEJ), he denies that he ever forced schools to use Mandarin. “DSEJ never forced schools to teach Chinese in Mandarin, nor did it require them to teach other Mandarin subjects,” said DSEJ director Lou Pak Sang.
In response, the director of the DSEJ explains that the requirements for academic skills highlight the “need for balance between Cantonese and Mandarin”, passing the curriculum objectives through the fluent use of Cantonese and the use of Mandarin for basic communication.
Read more in portuguese at Hoje Macau
