Kenya flags off first Chinese language teachers for further studies

The University of Nairobi on Friday flagged off its 2025 cohort of teacher trainees heading to China for further studies in the Chinese language.

A total of 48 students of the Confucius Institute at UON are heading to China, of which 20 are to return to the country as the first Chinese language teachers.

The group which left the country this Friday follows another 52 who were flagged off by the Chinese Embassy in Kenya last week.

The scholarship program has been hailed as marking a significant milestone in Kenya’s educational exchange with China.

More could follow in the face of elevated ties between the two countries after the April talks between President William Ruto and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

The event, held at the university’s iconic facility at the Nairobi Arboretum, celebrated not only the largest single group of scholars sent to China but also the inaugural cohort of the pioneering 2+2 Joint Program for International Chinese Language Education.

The atmosphere was electric with the dreams of 48 students poised to embark on a transformative journey.

Their mission is clear: that is, to return as the first batch of registered Chinese language teachers in Kenya, filling a critical gap in the national curriculum.

For them, this was more than a scholarship, but the key to becoming architects of a new linguistic and cultural bridge between Kenya and China.

“What began with simple curiosity has now become a defining part of my journey. We began with eager minds, not knowing a thing about the language. But today, we can hold a simple conversation with a Chinese person, proving that language is truly a bridge that brings people together,” Leah Muthoni, who is among the students travelling to China, said.

She added: “This programme has transformed us from campus students to future teachers, equipped to play a role in shaping education and strengthening cultural ties... In two years, the young men and women you send to China today will return as the strongest bridge between China and Kenya.”

After their graduation, the 2+2 students will become the first group of Chinese language teachers who can be registered and recognised by TSC to teach at secondary school.

The program was designed based on the TSC professional requirements for teacher registration.

Currently, even so, there are Kenyan Chinese language teachers in the market.

Kenya and China signed an agreement to cement the exchanges under the Xi's Global Civilisation Initiative.

The learners join the growing list of thousands of Kenyans who have benefited from Chinese scholarships.

More than 2,000 have benefited from Chinese scholarships since Kenya and China established diplomatic ties.

Professor Wang Shangxue, Director of the Confucius Institute, hailed the progress “our [Confucius Institute’s] greatest achievement.”

The growth is exponential.  The number of students, teachers and educators sent to China through the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi has soared from 96 in 2023 to a projected 245 by the end of 2025.

The ceremony was graced by Kenya’s top education leaders, each highlighting the program's profound national significance.

But as the stakeholders underscored, this is more than just numbers but about tangible, life-changing impact.

Carol Hunja, Secretary of the State Department for Higher Education, expressed excitement that the agreement providing the scholarship opportunities had moved decisively from paper to practice.

“Most of our agreements with partners remain on paper,” she noted. “We are happy this is different and dreams are coming true.”

She, along with others like Martin Kosgey of the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), framed the scholars’ departure as a “collective triumph” for Kenyan institutions.

Lilian Mwangi of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) said:

“We don't have a single Chinese language teacher registered on our payroll.”

She underscored the immense professional opportunity awaiting the returning graduates. “We look up to the young ones travelling.”

Prof Jackson Maalu, speaking on behalf of the University of Nairobi Vice-Chancellor, said UON Senate recently approved Chinese as a language option in the varsity’s programs.

“We aim to increase the employability of our graduates,” he said, positioning the university as a trendsetter in Africa.

He also revealed that more than 400 students from UoN have already studied in Tianjin, cementing a "win-win partnership."

Speaker after speaker held that the charge of building this bridge rests firmly on the shoulders of the students.

Zhang Zhizhong, China’s Chargé d'Affaires in Nairobi, watched the ceremony with a sense of personal pride, recalling the Confucius Institute as his first stop upon arriving in Kenya in 2018.

“I am proud to watch the baby growing well,” he said, advising the scholars, reminding them that their purpose extends far beyond academic grades.

“Much as Chinese companies may pay well, your most important responsibility is to build the dreams of young people who aspire to learn Chinese,” he urged.

“Study hard, learn about the history, language and culture of the Chinese and bring back a lot of stories.”

As the names of students like Kerry David and Cheryl Wambani were called, the expectations were high.

They are more than students, but are future educators, cultural ambassadors, and the living testament of a strengthening bilateral bond.

In two years, they will return, ready to shape the next generation of Kenyan students and even coach champions for the Chinese Bridge competition.