[lg policy] Singapore: Bilingual policy re-affirmed

[Harold Schiffman]

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
-- 
**************************************
N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to
its members
and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner
or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents.
Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal.
(H. Schiffman, Moderator)

For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to
https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/
listinfo/lgpolicy-list
*******************************************
_______________________________________________
This message came to you by way of the lgpolicy-list mailing list
lgpolicy-list at groups.sas.upenn.edu
To manage your subscription unsubscribe, or arrange digest format: https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/listinfo/lgpolicy-list