INTEREST in the Chinese Language (CL) is picking up, said Education Minister Ng Eng Hen on Tuesday.
Last year, 27 per cent of O-level Chinese candidates took Higher, compared to 19 per cent two years ago.
Dr Ng attributed the growing interest to the new 'modular approach' of learning Chinese, where Primary 1 to 5 students take different learning modules based on their ability. 'With the new format, primary students say they find lessons more interesting and are using CL more,' said Dr Ng at the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan affiliated schools Bi-cultural, Chinese Elective Programme graduation ceremony at Tao Nan School on Tuesday morning.
In his speech, Dr Ng said although the bilingual policy has served Singapore well and remained a cornerstone in the education system, the implementation must evolve to respond to an ever changing landscape for new generations of Singaporean students.
Pointing to the dramatic change in the language environment at homes, he said in 1982, only one in 10 Primary 1 Chinese students came from homes that used English. This has changed to nearly six in 10 today. For Indians, it has moved from three in 10 to six in 10, and for Malays, from 0.5 in 10 to 3.5 in 10.
'Students are spending more time online where many platforms predominantly in English compete for their attention. The teaching of language has to be reviewed periodically to ensure that it can engage students,' added Dr Ng.
