The number of students enrolled in Portuguese classes in Macao’s primary and secondary schools has increased by about 7 percent this year, the Jornal Tribuna de Macau reports.

The newspaper quotes Education and Youth Affairs Bureau Director Leong Lai as saying that 3,757 students are enrolled in the subject at more than 30 private and public schools – an increase of 243 students this calendar year.

The newspaper took the remarks from comments she made to Chinese-language publisher Exmoo News. The publisher says one additional school is offering Portuguese lessons this year and the Macao SAR Government has received positive feedback on the teaching of the language.

The Government has identified Portuguese as a funding priority in its Schools Development Plan for 2016/17.