[lg policy] Singapore: Bilingual policy re-affirmed

Harold Schiffman hfsclpp at GMAIL.COM
Thu Dec 31 18:50:08 UTC 2009


Bilingual policy re-affirmed



EDUCATION Minister Ng Eng Hen on Tuesday spent much time re-affirming
Singapore's bilingual policy, especially the teaching of the Chinese
language, the subject of much discussion in recent months. The policy
remains relevant for economic and cultural reasons, as bilingual
skills will benefit the children given the rise of Asia, he said. But
it has to be re-calibrated to cope with what he called an 'inexorable
change' in the language environment in homes, with six in 10 Primary 1
Chinese students speaking English at home now, he noted. Six in 10
Indian pupils and 3.5 in 10 Malay pupils are also using English
predominantly with family members.

He made it clear that those who can excel in the Chinese language will
have the opportunity to do so. If more students want this, he would
even add a new Special Assistance Plan (SAP) school to the present 25
which teach the language at a higher level. But accepting change also
means that for the rest of the students, expectations, teaching
methods and even tests have to be re-calibrated to keep the language
alive and useful. Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The
Straits Times.

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_471811.html
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