Chinese Debate

There was a big furore when *Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew stepped out in Parliament to address the issue of teaching Chinese in schools. He admitted that when he first encouraged bilingualism in schools the implementation of the policy was flawed. He now realised that one needed to master one language before using that master language to pick up another. With this realisation, he advised parents to determine what percentage they want their children to dedicate to learning English and Chinese. It is impossible to have 100% English and 100% Chinese, a balance must be drawn.

This has sparked budding ministers to offer their two cents worth. Some suggested making Chinese lessons more fun and interactive, to encourage learning the language. Apparently there is no clear stand from Ministry of Education and schools have employed a wide spectrum of methods, creating confusion amongst students and drawing mixed feelings from the public.

You need to have an interest in something in order to learn it well. While realising this fact, there should be some clear guidelines especially with regards to the syllabus. Knowing something is only the first step, but doing it is a different ball game altogether. To be proficient in a language, practice makes perfect and as with any form of knowlege, you simply have to use it or lose it.

Policymakers should not be NATO (No Action, Talk Only) (quoted from Prime Minister Lee HL). Careful planning must be done before implementing the new teaching techniques and these innovative methods shouldn't only be employed for Chinese. To maintain Singapore's unique multi-cultural heritage, we cannot afford to neglect the other mother tongues. The move away from rigid examinations-based education can also boost other subjects like Mathematics and Science. A well-conceived blueprint for education would definitely benefit generations to come.

*In 1959, Lee Kuan Yew became the first Prime Minister of Singapore and stepped down to be Senior Minister in 1990. When his son Lee Hsien Loong finally succeeded the reigns to be the third Prime Minister on August 12 2004, he was made Minister Mentor.