From CBC News:
The B.C. Teachers’ Federation says it’s concerned about a Metro Vancouver school program funded by the Chinese government.
A Mandarin language program taught to kindergarten and Grade 1 students in Coquitlam has been created by an organization called Confucius Classroom, an agency of the government of China.
The books and teaching materials used in the course are provided by Confucius Classroom.
Allowing a public school program to be funded by a foreign government — or a private organization — is a thorny issue, said BCTF president Susan Lambert.
“Does that mean any institution or corporation can buy space in a public school and have access to children?” Lambert said. “And what is the motivation and how do we control that?”
Confucius Classroom involves no social indoctrination, said Sylvia Russell, school district assistant superintendent.
“There’s a very specific curriculum that’s being taught in these classrooms,” said Russell. “That curriculum has nothing to do with political messages.”
Provincially approved
The program is approved by the B.C. Education Ministry, Russell said.
In the neighbouring city of Burnaby, the school board considered Confucius Classroom but decided to go with a different program.
School board chairperson Diana Mumford said the board proceeds cautiously when it comes to outside funding.
“We have to look at that very, very carefully,” said Mumford. “Often there are other agendas that are in that.”
The program funded by Confucius Classroom is a pilot project in Coquitlam.
The BCTF’s Lambert said a better solution would be long-term, stable government funding for language immersion programs.
Mandarin Immersion Parents Council 
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