The Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding Chinese language education in Sierra Leone following an engagement with the Confucius Institute at Fourah Bay College (FBC).

The engagement came after the launch of a new Chinese language teaching programme in selected schools across the country. According to the minister, the programme has already been introduced in 11 institutions, with plans to expand gradually and sustainably, especially within government schools.

Speaking during the engagement, Sackey said the initiative is driven by global economic realities and the need to better prepare young people for emerging opportunities. He described China as “the world’s second-largest economy and the largest investor in Africa,” and said education systems must respond to these changing dynamics.

“Our responsibility, as leaders and educators, is to ensure that our children are prepared for the world as it is becoming, not as it used to be,” Sackey said. “That is why pupils in government schools must also have access to learning Chinese, so they can compete confidently for global opportunities.”

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The minister explained that the programme is designed to address skills gaps that limit employment opportunities for young people, particularly in sectors dominated by Chinese investment.

He noted that Chinese companies operating in Sierra Leone and across Africa continue to seek skilled local professionals who can communicate effectively, manage projects, translate accurately, and work comfortably in international environments.

“Too often, we do not yet have enough of our young people with this vital combination of skills,” Sackey said, adding that the Chinese language initiative is intended to help close that gap.

He stressed that learning Chinese is not compulsory and is not meant to replace existing subjects. Instead, he said, it is about expanding choices for pupils and giving them access to wider opportunities. According to Sackey, Chinese language skills can open doors to scholarships, university exchanges, short-term training programmes and employment.

He also pointed out that many Chinese universities now rank among the best globally, and encouraged students to see China not only as a source of investment, but also as a centre for education, innovation and personal development.

“Our goal is clear: to link education directly to opportunity, and to ensure that no child is left behind in a rapidly changing global economy,” the minister said. “The future belongs to those who are prepared. And we are preparing our children step by step, skill by skill, opportunity by opportunity.”

Sackey described the initiative as part of a broader vision for national development through education, noting that progress sometimes requires firm and focused direction rather than lengthy explanations.

“This is about vision. This is about opportunity. This is about the future we are building for our children,” he said.