International education booming in Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone

Source: hubei.gov.cn 03/27/2018 04:03:35

Break time at the Wuhan French International School.(photo by Mei Tao/ Hubei Daily)

Class time at the Wuhan Yangtze International School. (photo by Mei Tao/ Hubei Daily)

Kids having Chinese class at Wuhan Yangtze International School. (photo by Mei Tao/ Hubei Daily)

On March 15, ISA International School of Wuhan, an investment project worth more than one billion yuan, settled down in the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone (hereinafter referred to as “WETDZ” ). With an area of 170 mu, this school is expected to open in 2020.

WETDZ, where the most foreigners live in Wuhan, has been attaching great importance to international education in recent years . At the end of 2013, the WETDZ government designated a site of 44 mu between Sanjiao Lake and Houguan Lake for international education.

At present, two international schools: Wuhan Yangtze International School and French International School of Wuhan are opening here.

Founded in 2003, Wuhan Yangtze International School (WYIS) is the first international school in Wuhan. It's an American school that only enrol foreign children from kindergarten to high school.

The French International School of Wuhan (EFIW) was created in September 2008, covering an area of 30,000 square meters. It aims to provide French education from kindergarten to high school for children of foreign workers who hold valid residence certificate in China. According to the president of the EFIW, the school currently has 85 students, mainly from countries such as France, Brazil and Algeria.

At Taizi Lake, in Wuhan ZDET, there is another international school: San New School. Founded in 2015, this high school is created by Fan Ben, expert of China’s "Thousand Talent Program". It is the first American-style boarding school in Wuhan. According to Fan, the school currently has more than 400 students, of whom more than 20% are children of senior executives and foreign experts in Wuhan.

In addition to these international schools, a good number of pulic schools in the region also offer international curricula, aimed at training local talents with an international vision. No.1 Senior High School of Wuhan Economic Development Zone opened the Sino-French class since 2006 , Jianghan University and Wuhan University of Commerce all opened the foreign language department.