巴基斯坦信德省的教育部門近日表示，將在該地區學校試點開設中文普通話必修課，計劃從6年級開始實行。該省教育廳長表示：“我們與中國的貿易、教育以及其他方面的關系在不斷發展，所以讓下一代掌握中國的語言是很必要的。”在此之前，瑞典官方也曾表示要在十年內在所有小學開設中文課程。不過，有批評人士指出，這項政策多是出于政治方面的考慮，目前巴基斯坦教育體系已經處于過度擴展狀態，而且中文教師資源也很匱乏，政府這樣做只會讓民眾更加難以理解。

?Education authorities in Sindh say they plan to make Mandarin compulsory in schools from Class 6 (10- and 11-year-olds).

Lessons in Mandarin could become compulsory for schoolchildren in parts of Pakistan under ambitious plans to capitalise on the growing influence of Chinese companies.

A pilot project will be launched later this year in the southern province of Sindh as Pakistan looks to further strengthen ties with its giant neighbour.

The country's cricketing authorities have even considered playing Test matches in China while touring sides avoid Pakistan for fear of terrorist attack.

Now, education authorities in Sindh say they plan to make Mandarin compulsory in schools from Class 6 (10- and 11-year-olds).

"Our trade, educational and other relations are growing with China everyday and now it is necessary for our younger generation to have command over their language," said Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq? senior provincial education minister, as he unveiled the policy.

The plan has many critics, however, who say the policy is driven by political considerations. They point out that Pakistan has few Chinese language teachers and an already overstretched education system.

Zubeida Mustafa, columnist and author of Tyranny of Language in Education, accused the Sindh government as moving further into "mass confusion".

"As is our wont, a handful of unqualified policymakers have taken the hasty decision with no planning having gone into it," she wrote.

Pakistan is not the only country to take up Mandarin or Cantonese as China's economic growth transforms world trade.

In July, Swedish officials announced that all primary schools would offer classes in Chinese within 10 years.

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(Agencies)

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen ）