More and more Africans want to learn Chinese. But who will teach them?

As China's engagement with African nations deepens, its influence is extending into various sectors, including education. A growing number of African countries are prioritizing Chinese language education, integrating it into their national curricula.

Tunisia pioneered this trend two decades ago, followed by Cameroon in 2012. Since then, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe have made Chinese an optional subject. Nigeria recently included it in its secondary curriculum, and Egypt and Kenya are in the process of doing the same.

These ambitious educational initiatives, however, are facing a significant obstacle: a shortage of qualified Chinese language teachers. This lack of educators is proving to be a major stumbling block in meeting the rising demand for learning Mandarin across the continent.

Historically, Chinese language instruction in Africa has been primarily facilitated through Beijing-backed Confucius Institutes located at universities and independent schools operated by Chinese nationals. The current push by African governments to embed the language within their own education systems signifies a broader desire to foster deeper ties and understanding with China.