NDR 2024: More students strong in mother tongue to be allowed to take it at higher level from Sec 1

SINGAPORE – Students who do well in their mother tongue language – Chinese, Malay or Tamil – will be able to study it at a higher level from Secondary 1, in an effort to nurture wider proficiency in these languages.

“Currently, if students wish to take Higher Chinese Language in secondary schools, their Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) overall score must meet a certain standard. However, there are some whose overall scores do not meet the criteria though they did very well for Chinese,” said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Aug 18.

“I think we should provide them with an opportunity to build on their strength,” he said in his Mandarin speech during the National Day Rally (NDR) at the Institute of Technical Education College Central. “Therefore, we will make a policy adjustment so that these students who are strong in Chinese can also take Higher Chinese Language from Secondary 1,” he said.

More details will come from the Ministry of Education (MOE) at a later date. 

“By this adjustment, we hope to nurture more students who are proficient in the Chinese language.” 

PM Wong added: “My commitment is that the Government will continue to support the cultivation of bilingual capability and encourage Chinese Singaporeans to use Chinese from a young age.”

Currently, pupils have to get an overall score of eight or better in the PSLE to study their mother tongue at a higher level in secondary school. If a pupil has an overall PSLE score of nine to 14, he must also achieve a score of AL1 or AL2, the two highest possible scores, in his mother tongue, or a distinction or merit grade in higher mother tongue in the PSLE.

Changes have been made over the years to boost the number of children studying their mother tongues at a higher level. Primary 3 and 4 pupils are now able to take Higher Chinese in several schools that are not in the Special Assistance Plan – a programme to develop bilingual students with traditional Chinese values.

This has resulted in an increase in the number of primary school pupils taking the subject, said PM Wong.

Since 2022, the MOE has also offered Higher Malay Language and Higher Tamil Language to Primary 3 pupils, expanding this to those in Primary 4 in 2023.

Secondary schools already have the flexibility of offering higher mother tongue language to students who have not met the eligibility criteria, if they have been assessed to have a strong ability and interest in their mother tongues and are able to handle the additional workload.

Singapore’s bilingual policy is important, said PM Wong. “Our bilingual and bicultural edge has enabled us to draw the best from the East and the West. It has also allowed us to connect with other countries.” 

But the Chinese community is very concerned about the standard of Mandarin in Singapore, he noted.

He added that many Singaporeans, including himself, speak English at home.

“My father grew up in Malaysia, while my mother grew up in a Malay kampung here, so they did not speak Mandarin,” he said. 

“I only began learning Chinese in school. This is why I had to put in a lot more effort to learn Chinese. Some of my classmates used to tease me for being ‘jiak kentang’ (Hokkien and Malay for ‘eat potatoes’, referring to those who are more ‘Westernised’ in their habits and preferences)!” 

But his hard work in school gave him a good foundation, allowing him to improve his Mandarin as he used it in daily life after entering politics.

He said: “My experience is not unique. During my visits to China, I met several young Singaporeans who graduated from schools known to be more English-speaking...

“They seldom spoke Mandarin at home. Despite that, the bilingual foundation from their school days proved useful. After they started working in China, they quickly became fluent in Mandarin.”

The hope is that more young parents can use Mandarin at home so Singapore can maintain its edge, he said.

There is concern about mother tongue languages, and it is not easy for children here who are growing up in an environment where English is the main language, said PM Wong later in his English speech.

That is why language learning cannot be a tedious process of memorising words, idioms or rules, he added.

This change in policy fits into broader efforts to value each child’s individual talents and skills, said East Coast GRC MP Jessica Tan after the rally.

Ms Tan, who is also Deputy Speaker of Parliament, said it is an important signal for students who may not be performing well in other subjects but doing well in their mother tongue to recognise their own ability and forge a path for themselves.

“This is what’s most encouraging,” said Ms Tan. “The focus is put on developing each Singaporean to their fullest potential.”

Educators here are working to make languages come alive, develop interest in them and make the learning process enjoyable, PM Wong said.

“There’s a lot happening in our classrooms these days to help our students gain confidence in communicating and speaking good English.

“They get more opportunities to speak and share their experiences, to role-play a scene from a story, and to engage and work together with their classmates.”

This new approach is especially important for the teaching of mother tongue languages, he said.

Read more: Key announcements from PM Wong’s first National Day Rally

Watch PM Wong’s National Day Rally speech here: