(openPR) - Singapore - The specialty chemicals group continues to finance teaching staff and materials in the new school year

German specialty chemicals company LANXESS AG continues to support Chinese language courses at the Landrat-Lucas Secondary School in Leverkusen, Germany with EUR 5,000 in funding. The school uses this money to pay a Chinese teacher and to purchase teaching materials. 49 students are currently enrolled in the beginner and advanced courses, up from 25 last year.

"The economic rise of China is a great opportunity and simultaneously a major challenge – for the country itself and also for the rest of the world. The significance of the Chinese language as a means of communication will continue to grow. This is why learning Chinese is a future-oriented qualification that goes far beyond economic interests," said Zhengrong Liu, Head of Human Resources at LANXESS during a visit to the school. "We are therefore very pleased to support this language programme, which remains highly unusual, at the Landrat-Lucas Secondary School."

Native speaker teaches the students

The specialty chemicals group already financed teaching materials and staff for the Chinese language courses this year and the year before. The Landrat-Lucas Secondary School has been offering language courses outside regular class time through a workgroup for more than 20 years. These courses are open to grade 11 through 13 students of all secondary schools in Leverkusen. The Chinese language programme is organised and managed by Jufang Comberg, a teacher and native speaker.

"Acceptance of our Chinese language courses continues to improve. This makes it even more important to offer the steadily growing number of students an optimum learning environment," rejoices Michael Bramhoff, head of the Landrat-Lucas Secondary School in response to the support received from LANXESS.

Supporting the Landrat-Lucas Secondary School is part of an education initiative launched by LANXESS in 2008. The specialty chemicals group provided financial support to 17 secondary schools in the Lower Rhine region last year in order to achieve lasting improvements in natural science and technical education as well as research programmes at these facilities. Among other things, the funds were used to purchase new laboratory furnishings, technical equipment and teaching materials for the subjects of chemistry, biology, physics and informatics. The specialty chemicals group also organised student workshops. Chinese language education is just one example of how LANXESS remains committed to education even in difficult economic times.

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 6.58 billion in 2008 and currently around 14,600 employees in 23 countries. The company is represented at 46 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals. More information at www.lanxessgoesasia.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by LANXESS AG management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 6.58 billion in 2008 and currently around 14,600 employees in 23 countries. The company is represented at 46 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals. More information at www.lanxessgoesasia.com.

Maggie Tan
Phone: 656725 5821
Email: maggie.tan@lanxess.com
LANXESS Pte Ltd
9 Benoi Sector
Singapore 629844