The academy already has more than 340 students learning Mandarin and plans to extend the programme to Year 6 next year and into Secondary School the following year 

Dubai, Feb 12, 2024: Sunmarke School has launched Sunmarke Mandarin Academy.  

The academy already has more than 340 students learning Mandarin and plans to extend the programme to Year 6 next year and into Secondary School the following year. The school runs a native Mandarin programme after school, free of charge for parents, delivered by the Ni Hao Institute.  

Dr. Neil Hopkin, Director of Education, Fortes Education (the operator of Sunmarke School) expressed his thoughts on the significance of Mandarin learning and Chinese cultural understanding. “IAs educators, we are not simply teaching a language; we are opening doors to a civilization with a history stretching back thousands of years. We are providing our students with the tools they need to engage meaningfully with a significant portion of the world’s population to understand different perspectives and to navigate a multicultural world with confidence and empathy.”  

Nicholas Rickford, Principal, Sunmarke School says, “This milestone is not just about adding another language to our curriculum; it is about embracing diversity, promoting cultural understanding, and preparing our students for a globalised world.”