As early as the October 1997, the first delegation of Committee of Technikon Principals (CTP) five Principals visited to China, thereby raising the curtain for China-South Africa educational exchanges. 1999, South Africa President Mandela delivered a speech at Beijing University. Both China and South Africa belong to developing countries, sharing similar historical backgrounds and variety of common interests, entrusted with the same task of development and historical mission. Since South Africa democracy 10 years, especially January 1998, educational cooperation was strengthened with the deepening friendship.
Regular meeting between high-level educational officials from competent departments of both two China and its South Africa counterparts have provided a platform for direct contact and further understanding. January 2003, the Minutes of Talks on Education (MOT) between Chen Zhili, Chinese Minister of Education, and Prof Kader Asmal, SA Minister of Education, was signed in Pretoria.
Chinese Vice-President, Mr. Zeng Qinghong, accompanied by Minister of Education, Dr Zhou Ji, and their delegation who are invited by Deputy President Zuma, visited South Africa between June 26 to 29, 2004. During the course of this visit, two Ministers of Education signed AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA THROUGH ITS MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ON COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION, and held Education Sectoral Committee of Second Meeting of Republic of South Africa and People's Republic of China Bi-National Commission.
On the Education Sector Meeting held on June 28, 2004, Minister Pandor and Minister Zhou reached agreement on teaching Chinese language in South Africa. Two Governments shall encourage the studying of the languages, literature, culture and history of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of South Africa and those of the Republic of South Africa in People's Republic of China. Two Governments shall co-operate in the establishment of Chinese Study Center at Stellenbosch University.
*The Minister's discussion also focused on, among other matters, the following:
*The exchange of high level delegations of officials from their Ministries;
*The encouraging of exchanges of lectures, researchers and postgraduate students between their two nations' institutions of higher education;
*The promotion of institutional linkages;
*The collaboration between their two countries' National commissions for UNESCO.
Minister Zhou invited Minister Pandor to attend the UNESCO Education For All Conference, to be held in Beijing, in 2005.
National counselor of the People's Republic of China, Madam Zhili Chen, together with Deputy Minister of Education of the People's Republic of China, Madam Chen Xiaoya arrived in South Africa on July 11-14, presided the series of "Bravo, China-Africa-Chinese Cultural Tour of Africa". During her visiting, she visited some schools in Pretoria.
Mutual exchange of visits by educational delegations from China and SA respectively is an important means for China-SA educational cooperation. Not only can it enhance mutual understanding and trust, but also directly facilitate cooperation aimed at mutual benefits between the competent departments of China and SA. According to statistics, ever since 1997s, China has sent over 28 delegations to SA, while receiving more than 20 delegations and groups from SA.
The Chinese government accept SA student to study in China. Since 1998s, China has offered 5 government scholarship for SA students to study at Chinese tertiary institutions. Starting last year, China provides 5 fully funded government scholarship each two year to South Africa. In addition, there are 27 self-fee students from SA study in Chinese universities.
China has also been offering short-term scholarships ranging between 2 weeks and four months to SA. 15 educational public servants and professional persons were in China to attended Seminars and Workshops.
Up to now, 10 government-funded Chinese students have studied in SA. Only 19 Chinese students were registered in South Africa in 1999, up to September this year, however more than 3 300 Chinese students have come to study in south Africa tertiary institutions.
Language serves as a bridge that brings people together. In affirmation of the positive changes in the Chinese economy and China opening up greater links with the world, more and more South African know important of study Mandarin. According to Agreement of Education, Stellenbosch University has been identified as the seat for Center for Chinese Studies . The center will open in middle of this October. Chinese Government gives financial support for establishment of this center and built language lab, dispatching Chinese teachers to Center. The center will initially concentrate on study of the Chinese language and incrementally introduce other fields of study, among others, the study of Chinese culture, its politics and history, as will as the carrying out of research into a number of spheres of Chinese life and its relationships with Africa and in particular South Africa.
Two South African universities and twenty schools offer Mandarin course. The Chinese government has committed to supporting and encouraging SA Chinese teachers and research. Three Chinese teachers will be sent to work in SA by Chinese government this year. Last June, Chinese Embassy held The 2nd Chinese Bridge World University Students Chinese Proficiency SA Region Preliminary Competition in Stellenbosch university. The competition was a great success. The 3rd Chinese Bridge World University Students Chinese Proficiency SA Region Preliminary Competition held in this June. Four Students from Stellenbosch University and UNISA on behalf of SA attended the finals in China and got good results. Chinese government gives them fill financial support.
The Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China would donate to UNISA and Stellenbosch University 3920 volumes of books in Chinese and English since 2001s. The books cover politics, economics, history, geography, as well Chinese Tex-books. The donation ceremonies were held in the universities, those books donation projects in the area of education also help promote the academy exchanges.
Since the 1997s, 11 Chinese universities have established cooperation programs with 15 SA higher institutions. On June 18-19, 2004, the 2004 Chinese Education Exhibition-the first of its kind in South Africa hosted by Cape Technikon. Altogether 25 Chinese universities from 14 different cities were selected by the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) to attend the exhibition in Cape Town.. The exhibition was fully introduce Chinese education and universities to the public and institutions of South Africa, so that more students and scholars will go to China to study.
China-SA education cooperation has a bright future. The education cooperation helps create a most favorable situation which enables China and South Africa to assimilate the best of their cultures respectively, and make it possible to promote the understanding and friendship among the peoples of China and South Africa, thus facilitate the exchange and cooperation between China and South Africa in the areas of politics, economy and culture.