China to expand 'intangible culture' lessons, ministry says
30/7/2008 17:33
After introducing Peking Opera to primary and middle schools, China plans
to add more aspects of the nation's intangible cultural heritage to the
curriculum, such as paper-cuts, folksongs and crafts.
Vice Culture Minister
Zhou Heping told a national meeting yesterday that his ministry was working with
the Ministry of Education to achieve this goal, which was meant to "arouse
students' interest and enhance their understanding of their heritage."
The
Ministry of Education launched a pilot program in late February to introduce
Peking Opera at 20 elementary and middle schools in 10 provinces.
Training
classes aimed at passing on traditional and folk cultures will be initiated,
according to Zhou. More than 1,000 people are expected to benefit from the
program.
Major efforts have been made to salvage and protect intangible
cultural heritage items in areas hit by the May 12 quake. Among these efforts
was a planned cultural reservation area for the Qiang ethnic group, he said.
Xinhua
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