Propaganda in classrooms fear as China’s ‘spy’ centres gift Scots schools £1million
SNP ‘must not turn blind eye’ to funding from institutes under Beijing control
SCHOOLS across Scotland are being funded by organisations linked to the Chinese government, sparking fears over propaganda in classrooms.
Confucius Institutes have handed more than £1 million to Scottish schools, with the stated aim of promoting Chinese language and culture. While more than 40 schools have been happy to receive cash for extra staff and learning hubs, concerns have been raised about potentially sinister influence.
A report last month by the UK’s intelligence and security committee concluded: ‘Confucius Institutes are run, and part-funded, by the Hanban, an educational organisation ultimately controlled by the CCP’s [Chinese Communist Party] Central Propaganda Department.
‘China provides direct investment to academic institutions so that it can guarantee input into academic programmes, direct research and ensure that UK students are taught an interpretation of China that reflects the CCP’s interests. The latter is primarily conducted through the Confucius Institutes in the UK.’
It stated that the institutes ‘carry out entirely legitimate activities, such as fostering cultural ties and providing language teaching. However, they have also been accused of stifling academic debate about sensitive issues, such as Tibet’.
It added: ‘Confucius Institutes are utilised by the Chinese government in order to dissuade universities from engaging in debates the CCP considers to be unsuitable topics.’
East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh and Midlothian councils have received more than £100,000 each from Confucius Institutes in the past three years.
Councils such as Western Isles have also been given cash for ‘startup funding’ for primary and secondary ‘Confucius classroom hubs’ designed to promote ‘planning of cultural activities... and to stimulate the learning and teaching of Chinese language and culture’. The money is also used for arts projects on Chinese culture and history and bringing Mandarin teachers to schools.
Last year Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced plans to shut down Confucius Institutes in the UK amid disquiet over their activities, although the move was later shelved. Scottish Conservative education spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘People across Scotland will be concerned at the funding links uncovered here. This is not something the SNP Government can turn a blind eye to.’ In total, £1,029,380 has been dished out in the past three years by 16 of Scotland’s 32 councils. Edinburgh City Council got £126,250 via the Confucius Institute for Scotland’s Schools (CISS), based at Strathclyde University, for ‘employee costs’ and ‘activity funding’ for hubs at Dalry Primary and Leith Academy.
Glasgow received £19,200 towards Chinese hubs at King’s Park Primary and Hillhead High, as well as £23,000 towards a ‘secondary school Chinese teacher’ from CISS.
Renfrewshire Council was handed £189,015 for primary and secondary hubs as well as cash towards a Mandarin teacher.
In Midlothian, £102,190 went towards hubs and teachers across four primary schools and Lasswade Secondary. The money trail even reached Scotland’s outlying areas, with Western Isles landing ‘startganda up funding’ of £20,000 for primary and secondary ‘Confucius Hubs’.
Shetland Council received £16,400 ‘for operational costs, Mandarin lessons and Chinese culture resources’, adding: ‘This can include travel costs for a teacher who usually comes from China to live in Shetland and work in schools.’
Leading think-tank the Henry Jackson Society said Confucius Institutes at British universities are ‘formally part of the propasystem of the Chinese Communist Party’.
The report said: ‘There are no offshoots of the Chinese state integrated more closely into British society than Confucius Institutes. British universities and the CCP hold opposed values.
‘Universities are committed to free inquiry, freedom of speech, equality and freedom from discrimination. The CCP jails the inquiring, suppresses speech and spreads disinformation at home and abroad.
‘Bodies overseen by the CCP should have no place in higher education in the UK.’
The CISS at Strathclyde University says it works ‘with schools to engage pupils with Chinese language learning and culture’.
A university spokesman said: ‘Any funding is ring-fenced to support provision of high-quality, progressive language learning. Activities are expected to meet General Teaching Council of Scotland standards.’
Meanwhile, the Confucius Institute for Scotland at the University of Edinburgh is described as a ‘national centre to promote educational, economic and cultural ties between Scotland and China’.
A university spokesman said: ‘We and the Confucius Institute for Scotland continue to conduct open and critical debate about China. There has been no loss of academic freedom or inhibition of academic debate.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Universities are expected to understand and manage reputational, ethical and security risks associated with international partnerships.’
‘Concerned at the funding links uncovered’ ‘CCP should have no place in higher education’