Education chiefs are hoping to hear back this autumn on whether they can bring in a Mandarin teacher for primary schools.

Towards the end of last year Education Minister Graham Cregeen revealed talks were taking place with the Confucius Institute about providing a Mandarin language teacher.

He gave an update to Tynwald on Tuesday.

’An application has been made to Hanban, the Confucius Institute headquarters, to support this post,’ he said.

’We are also seeking support from the Chinese consulate and hope to hear the outcome of this application in the autumn.’

The minister was replying to a question from Daphne Caine (Garff), who also asked how many of the island’s 32 primary schools were providing any foreign language teaching. Mrs Caine has previously criticised a lack of languages lessons in primary schools.

Mr Cregeen said that responsibility for the detailed curriculum was delegated to head teachers.

He added: ’The majority of primary schools, 21, reported that, like all primary schools in the island, they offer Manx but do not offer any other language tuition.

’Of the others, a range of languages were offered, including French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Hindi and Mandarin, generally depending on availability of suitably qualified staff or curricular time.’

These were offered in a number of formats, he said, including dedicated lessons, lunchtime sessions and after school clubs.