11.25.2004 The Straits Times
Singapore Parliament debates changes to teaching Chinese
By Laurel Teo
SINGAPORE -- Parliament on Wednesday began a debate on the most sweeping changes yet to the teaching of Chinese, aimed at making it a living language.
For nearly five hours, the House discussed the recommendations tabled in a 64-page White Paper report, and will continue again on Thursday and maybe Friday.
The debate, meant to garner the endorsement of MPs, comes after a committee spent nine months reviewing how Chinese language is taught here.
Among the committee's recommendations, which the Education Ministry has accepted, are:customising the curriculum from primary one to suit students' abilities and home language background; emphasising listening, fluency in speaking and reading for most students; andoverhauling examinations to cut down on memorising long word lists.
Since the recommendations came out about a week ago, there have been mixed reactions. Many applauded the changes, but some were more wary, even disappointed, wondering if the review was a concession to English-speaking Singaporeans and would lead to a further decline in standards.
The 15 MPs who rose to speak reflected similar concerns.
But Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam debunked any notion that the changes were meant to cater to a small group with no interest in the language.
Instead, they are meant to get as many Chinese students as possible fired up about their mother tongue, and help them learn it as best as they can.
He said the recommendations could be summed up in two words: flexibility and enjoyment. |
