SINGAPORE: More students are taking Higher Chinese at
O-level. Last year, they formed 27 percent of O-level Chinese
candidates. This is double the proportion from a decade
ago.
Education Minister Ng Eng Hen said the 2004 Chinese
Language Review has succeeded in making lessons more interesting
for primary school pupils. It has also attracted more students to
take Higher Chinese Language.
He noted that the language environment in homes has changed
dramatically. Six in 10 Chinese students now come from
English-speaking homes compared to one in 10 in 1982. For Indians,
the figure has moved from three to six in 10, and Malays, from 0.5
to 3.5 in 10.
"Students are spending more time online where many platforms,
predominantly in English, compete for their attention," said Dr
Ng.
He argued that this is why the teaching of Mother Tongue Language
has to be reviewed periodically to ensure it can engage
students.
He was speaking at the graduation ceremony for students of the
Bi-Cultural Chinese Elective Programme, which seeks to develop an
in-depth mastery of the language and culture.
It was started by the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan for its five
primary schools to produce a core group of pupils who are
effectively bilingual.
Said Dr Ng: "Proficiency in a language can only come through
speaking and practice.
"We need an environment that will encourage the use of the language
not just as a form of communication but as part of the thinking
process.
"MOE cannot create this Chinese Language speaking environment
alone. I am glad that stakeholders, like the Singapore Hokkien Huay
Kuan, are putting in efforts to help create a conducive
environment."
- CNA/ir