A class on Confucian values in Madagascar kicked off on Friday at Le Petit Nid, a private school in Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo.

“The Confucius class that we inaugurated today is simply the first Confucius class by our institute and the first Confucius class in Madagascar,” said Chen Lijuan, Chinese director of Confucius Institute of Antananarivo University, during the inauguration.

“Because of the sustained efforts and remarkable contribution of the school (Le Petit Nid) in favor of the promotion of Chinese language and culture in Madagascar, the Confucius Institute headquarters gave its approval for the opening of a Confucius class within the school on March 23, 2016,” Chen said.

Chinese courses were introduced in the private school in 2013 with only 210 students. Since then, the number of students studying Chinese in the school has increased to around 2,000 currently, according to school CEO, Sahoby Mampionona Ramahafalisoa.