LEARNING OF MALAY LANGUAGE IN SCHOOLS

Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh asked the Minister for Education (a) if he will consider making the learning of Malay Language mandatory but non-examinable in all schools; and (b) whether he will encourage this at the primary school level.

The Minister for Education (RAdm Teo Chee Hean): Sir, the Government has adopted a bilingual language policy in our schools. English is the main medium of instruction. English is our common working language and is also the language of global business, commerce and technology. Each student is also required to learn his mother tongue to provide direct access to our cultural heritage in order to strengthen our values, roots and sense of identity. This bilingual policy is essential for our nation building.

We also encourage students who are linguistically inclined and able to cope to study a third language. Malay Language is one of the languages that these students can opt to study as a third language. They do so in their secondary school years when they are more mature and can decide for themselves what their interests are.

Learning two languages from Primary One onwards is already a challenge for our students. Such views have often been expressed by Members of this House also. From our experience, going beyond this to learning more than two languages will be academically very challenging and demanding for the large majority of our students. It is not realistic and is too heavy a burden to the majority of the students if the learning of a third language is made mandatory.

However, schools, which have the resources and where there is a demand, may consider organising language classes as an optional enrichment programme for their pupils who are able to cope with the additional learning load.

Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh: Sir, does the Minister mean that students can have an optional Malay language class at primary school level? He was talking about Malay language in secondary school. I am asking for the introduction of the language at primary level. Can schools be allowed to do that? And can they be allowed to recruit their own teachers?

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, I have said that schools, which have the resources and where there is a demand, can consider organising language classes as an optional enrichment programme for their pupils who are able to cope with the additional learning load. I think it will be quite a demand for primary school students, in my view.