13 November 2020
Teachers from schools across the Island took part in a webinar attended by over 100 principals from schools across China to share experiences of education during the coronavirus pandemic and to discuss to how to strengthen cooperation.
Minister for Education, Senator Tracey Vallois, gave welcoming remarks at the virtual event and the headteachers of D’Auvergne, Les Quennevais, St John and Hautlieu schools all gave presentations. Also present was the recently appointed Minister Counsellor for Education at the Chinese Embassy in London, Madame Zhang Jin.
Group Director of Education, Sean O’Regan, said “‘Educational collaboration between Jersey and China is vital if we are to learn from each other’s successes. We already have some well-established links between Jersey schools and their partners in China, and are proud of the thriving Confucius classroom at Hautlieu, the 1000th such facility in the world.
This conference highlights how we are keen to provide Jersey students with future opportunities to study and to learn about, and from, a wide range of countries, including China. To do this well we have to build relationships and close ties, so in the next few months we will be looking to share and deepen these links. For now, I am delighted to be part of this conference and hear what headteachers and their staff, from both China and Jersey, have experienced and learned since the outbreak of COVID-19.’
The webinar continues cooperation between the Children, Young People, Education and Skills department and the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), China’s nationwide not-for-profit organisation that arranges international exchanges to build understanding between nations by sharing culture and education. Officials from both sides also participated in the session.
The Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré, had an introductory meeting in Beijing with the CEAIE in 2018 and signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further cooperation on a subsequent visit in 2019. The CEAIE also organised for a delegation of over 30 principals from Chinese schools to visit the Island last summer as part of a visit to Europe.
Minister for External Relations, Senator Ian Gorst, said “Today’s webinar is another excellent example of how we can continue to grow our relationships with international partners whilst physical events and travel are not possible. Cooperation with China in education has grown over a number of years and sharing our knowledge and experiences of educating during the COVID-19 pandemic with international counterparts will benefit Jersey schools and students.”
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