The Volunteer Teachers for China, a Columban-sponsored programme also known as AITECE, has been facing a number of challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Hugh MacMahon explains.
The teachers who never left China were allowed to stay on but those who left for vacation have had trouble returning.
Three Irish teachers are waiting to hear if they can go back in September but the Chinese authorities are very sensitive to the Covid threat and are much slower to reopen than Europe.
There have also been enquiries from new applicants for the programme but they are advised to think of next March rather than later this year.
The AITECE teachers who have remained in China are in good spirits and health. They feel safe because of the tight precautions and the fact that only a few dozen cases have been reported in a population of a billion and a half.
The good news is that the demand for volunteer teachers remains strong and we look forward to renewed activity in 2022.
If you are interested in getting to know China, either to prepare yourself to go there or keep in touch with this emerging country, get news and insights into the culture, visit AITECE’s website www.aitece.ie, specifically its ‘Getting to know China’ section. There you will also find a list of other institutes and groups in Ireland that relate with China.
For further information contact:
Hugh: (083) 149 9533 or (01) 628 6036 or email [email protected]