Sturgeon blasted over £750k China schools initiative
Greer attacks link with ‘propaganda arm’
NICOLA Sturgeon’s decision to invest a further £745,000 in a controversial Chinese education initiative was last night branded “wildly irresponsible”.
Green MSP Ross Greer hit out after the First Minister announced the Scottish Government cash will go to the Confucius Institute for Scotland’s Schools (CISS) scholarship programme.
The joint scheme between CISS and the Tianjin Education Commission provides places for a number of Scottish students to study and live in China for a year.
But critics claim the institute is part of the Chinese state’s propaganda arm and believe strengthening links with Confucius sends a bad signal about human rights abuses in China.
Greer said: “Allowing the Chinese regime to expand their influence through Scottish schools and universities is a wildly irresponsible move from the First Minister.
“The Confucius programme is boycotted by academics and organisations across the world and the wider Chinese project of ‘education’ outreach is under investigation by the FBI, so why do the Scottish Government believe it is suitable here?
“Academic freedom is essential to a free society and I can think of few other countries which are studied on terms set by the government of that country – and certainly not governments with such a long and violent history of crushing dissent, abusing human rights and forbidding free speech as the Chinese regime.” A total of 70 Scottish students have been awarded scholarships since the partnership started in 2012. In 2017 and 2018 there are 22 places, which CISS hope to increase next year. Sixth year pupils in Scotland’s 22 Confucius classroom hubs can apply for the scholarships. There are also Confucius Institutes in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt and Aberdeen universities. Strathclyde University hosts a specialist Confucius Institute which provides teachers to schools.
And Edinburgh Zoo last month announced Scotland’s latest Confucius classroom as part of a wider relationship with China, from which it rents two pandas.
The row erupted on day two of Sturgeon’s latest visit to China to forge trade and cultural links.
Sturgeon will today claim Scotland and China will inevitably have “different perspectives” on some issues but are also facing “common challenges”.
The SNP leader – who has already raised the issue of human rights during her trip to China – will use a speech in Beijing to highlight how both nations are working to tackle poverty and improve life for children.
The speech in Beijing comes after Sturgeon had a “constructive discussion” with Chinese vice-premier Hu Chunhua.
The address is part of a joint Scottish Government and Unicef event, hosted by the Chinese Peoples Association for Friendship of Foreign Countries. Sturgeon will say: “We know that by tackling poverty, by promoting education and childcare, and by strengthening children’s rights, we can meet our moral obligations while laying the foundations for future prosperity and wellbeing.”