(13th, Our Correspondent) On the 7th of this month, Chung Hwa Middle School in Brunei successfully held the second session of this year's Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK), with a total of 149 candidates registered. Examinees came from the school itself, other stream schools, and from the wider community, reflecting the broad appeal of Chinese language learning in Brunei.
It is understood that HSK is an internationally standardized test, designed specifically for non-native Chinese speakers (including foreigners, overseas Chinese, ethnic Chinese, and non-Chinese candidates). Its results have become an important reference for studying in China, applying for scholarships, joining summer camps, and seeking work or residency.
Since 2007, Chung Hwa Middle School has been the only HSK test center in Brunei, providing convenience for local Chinese language learners. On June 22 this year, the school successfully held the first HSK session, and this is the second session of the year. The exam format covers HSK Levels 1 to 6 written tests, as well as HSKK primary, intermediate, and advanced oral tests, meeting the needs of learners at different levels.
Candidates registered this time were of a wide age range, from first grade primary school students to those over fifty years old, including quite a few Malay compatriots, demonstrating the interest in Chinese across multiple ethnic groups.
Principal Khoo Yue Lan of Chung Hwa Middle School stated that the continued organization of the HSK in Brunei shows the high recognition of Chinese education in society. She pointed out that as China-Brunei exchanges and cooperation deepen, the importance of Chinese in the country is increasing. As a leader in Chinese-language education, Chung Hwa not only preserves cultural roots for ethnic Chinese students but also opens the door for non-ethnic Chinese students to understand Chinese culture.
She also revealed that as of March 2024, Chung Hwa Middle School has been upgraded to a "Chinese Language Learning Testing Center" and will select and recommend outstanding candidates each year to participate in summer and winter camps in China, with participants generally reporting rewarding experiences.
The exam site was well-organized that day, and candidates answered questions attentively, showing enthusiasm for Chinese learning. To ensure a smooth exam, the school’s "Chinese Language Learning Testing Center" made careful arrangements for everything from exam room setup, equipment debugging, to exam staff training.