Gov is helping citizens?

[SimonTan]

I heard in the MRT today two old uncles talking.

They said their China mei mei was complaining to them last night that Singapore education is so easy for their china born kids.

The Chinese language is so easy for their children to pass the PSLE, its like this subject is a Free-pass given to their kids, and all they need to study is the maths and science and english(one less subject to worry for the exams).

And the china mei mei are NOT happy that the gov is going to cut down the % weighting as it will level the playing field for the 'lousy and lazy' Singaporeans who does not like to study and perform badly in chinese.

They say this gov is trying to make things easy for the citizens and not for the PR kids!

 

 

 

 

May 5, 2010

Chinese teachers' union concerned

Officials meet Education Minister over review of mother tongue weighting

By Clarissa Oon, Senior Political Correspondent

 

OFFICIALS of the Singapore Chinese Teachers' Union (SCTU) have met Education Minister Ng Eng Hen to express their concerns over a possible cut in the weighting given to mother tongue languages in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).

 

They had a 11/2-hour dialogue on the issue, which has stirred up strong, polarising reactions in recent days.

 

The union, which represents the 1,600 Chinese teachers in Singapore, yesterday released a statement about the meeting on Monday evening, which was also attended by Mrs Josephine Teo, assistant secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress.

 

Currently, mother tongue has a weighting of 25 per cent, similar to that for English, mathematics and science, the other three subjects in the PSLE.

 

The union called in its statement for this weighting to be preserved 'so that it is more in line with the principle of bilingualism and further strengthens the competitive advantage of Singapore in developing bilingual talents'.

 

At the dialogue, Chinese teachers shared their concerns with Dr Ng and gave their feedback on how the teaching of the Chinese language could be improved, particularly for weaker pupils.

 

Dr Ng assured them that the Government had no intention of reducing the importance of mother tongue languages in the education system. He also shared his ministry's future directions for the teaching of the subject.

 

He and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong are expected to meet the press next week to address concerns and outline the Government's thinking on the issue.

 

Public debate has been heated, particularly among Chinese Singaporeans, after Dr Ng gave a media interview two weeks ago questioning the educational soundness of the mother tongue counting for so much at primary school level.

 

Those who support reducing the mother tongue weighting say that the current system penalises pupils who excel in all subjects except mother tongue. These pupils are mostly from English-speaking families.

 

The opposing camp cuts across a broader spectrum. Elderly Chinese community leaders and young bilingual professionals alike are against a further dilution of Chinese language standards.

 

There are also English-educated parents who feel that a reduced weighting for Chinese does not make sense in an age when more people worldwide are wanting to learn the language.

 

Chinese-language teachers fear that a cut in the mother tongue weighting could lead to reduced Chinese lessons and redundancies in their profession.

 

The SCTU statement said any downgrading of mother tongue weighting in the PSLE 'would directly and adversely affect the resource allocation by the schools and parents and hence the attitudes of pupils towards the subject'.

 

While agreeing with the minister that mother tongue examinations and assessments should be reviewed, it said the review should 'strengthen the linkage between assessments and curriculum so as to positively motivate pupils to learn the language'.

 

The union stressed that Chinese teachers care about pupils who are weaker in the language, and agreed to measures to help this group.

 

'But all this should be done on the premise of preserving the importance of mother tongue,' it added.

 

Speaking to The Straits Times yesterday, Mrs Teo said the dialogue had gone well and she was impressed by how the union had 'brought up its concerns in a rational and professional manner'.

 

SCTU president Lim Chin Nam added that it had been a very encouraging session for the Chinese teachers.

 

'The atmosphere was very sincere and open and everyone spoke their minds,' he told The Straits Times.

 

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[Diamond2006]

Before the flood gate of FT is open wide @ 2006, I always encourage my children to speak chinese in preparing them their primary education as I knew they should not have problem in coping in English Lauguage.

 

But now, with the gate wide open... YES BY ALL MEANS, reduce the weightage of 2nd language in PSLE! Why should we give advantage to those china-born chinese student? If they are not happy, then go back to their countries!!!

Edited May 5, 2010 by Diamond2006

[Seaweed]

I don't think there is any big issue on this...it is a choice of whether each individual choose to eat rice or potato....exam is just a exam....if you like chinese....no exam...you will also study chinese by your own...if you like english...you will study english on your own as well...so exam is just an exam....i think we are turning into a wrong road again....We can cultivate...but we can't force a french fried guy to become a rice guy...or a rice guy to become a french fried guy....

[Kangadrool]

I dun understand. What is there to study for languages like English and Chinese? I never prepared for English and Chinese language exams. Only practice and practice daily. This is not Science and Maths.

[Aeromania]

English + mandarin + melayu + tamil + dialect = Singlish

 

We are prepared for any language. How many people in other country can speak like us??? lol

[Benarsenal]

I dun understand. What is there to study for languages like English and Chinese? I never prepared for English and Chinese language exams. Only practice and practice daily. This is not Science and Maths.

 

True.

 

You 'learn' languages by reading and using it. The more you use, the better you get.

[Nlatio]

Really, by just adjusting the weightage of the MT, is not going to help anyone..... unless the whole system is relook......

 

Down weightage of MT, when they gonna start??? ....... next year... then parent this year kpkb..... those kid with good result on MT, parent also kpkb..... MT teacher also kpkb.... the standard is so low, might as well ask the england teacher to bao england and MT lesson can already....

 

And not forgetting when down weightage of MT.... we not only talking about Chinese, there are also Malay and Indian language MT.... they never kpkb say their MT tough..... they will kpkb..... only down Chinese.... then not fair..... parent also kpkb......

 

The vocal group are those kids that cannot make it in MT.... "demand" that the weightage lowered or removed...... wtf..... can we also gather the parent of those kids whose Math, Science or England not good.... come out kpkb and lower the weightage............. like that no need exam..... you good in what just study what..... NBzz..... just wanna take the easy way out......

 

It will create an unfair advantage to a cetain group of kids..... those strong in England weak in MT, most happy if weightage lower..... but how about those strong in MT weak in England..... so the current system is fair.... you strong in England, weak in MT, jolly well bug up on MT..... same for those weak in England..... so it is a level playing ground....

 

If no good in certain subject.... what's the best way... study hard for it... whether you like it or not.....

 

 

The excuse they give are really lame...... what MT not impt lar, why need MT, kid not happy in school cause all other subject stong, MT CMI lar blah blah blah.....wonder if their kid score A for MT will they still say the same thing........ it is a skill they will acquire.... they never know when in life they will need it.....just like if their kids go to NS.... they no good in 2.4km, can ask the PTI to lower the standard???? clock 30min for 2.4km pass laready... anything better Gold standard.... can argue thier kid not going for war, not going for Olympig/Asia Game/Sea Games... know how to run so fast for fark.

Or their kid no need to learn swimming cause their kid dont go swimming, they dont like water..............

 

But it is an essentail skill that is good to have, one that they may need it someday....... its the same for MT.............

 

So obviously the arguement for MT to be lowered are flawed........

Edited May 5, 2010 by Nlatio

[Yenyenpark]

dunno if this is the mentality Govt give to our previous generation students.. English most important, MT eg Chinese, know how to talk will do.. no need to really excel...

 

then when time comes by, the Singaporeans Chinese standards drops.. drops till very low.. and still many parents kpkb.. it's dragging down their PSLE results blah blah blah..

 

China is growing bigger and bigger now.. Chinese in Singapore and tap their growth if they can excel in MT.. but too bad.. most still can't see the importance of Chinese Language and kpkb here.. Primary standard of Chinese here is like Kindergarten standard in Mainland China...

 

while MM said Shanghai needs to brush up their English to be Financial Hub.. but he should tell Singapore to excel in Chinese to able to work closely to them.. sigh.. no wonder Taiwanese and Hong Key can do business better with China than Singapore.. not only location but it's the common language..

[Ender]

dunno if this is the mentality Govt give to our previous generation students.. English most important, MT eg Chinese, know how to talk will do.. no need to really excel...

 

then when time comes by, the Singaporeans Chinese standards drops.. drops till very low.. and still many parents kpkb.. it's dragging down their PSLE results blah blah blah..

 

China is growing bigger and bigger now.. Chinese in Singapore and tap their growth if they can excel in MT.. but too bad.. most still can't see the importance of Chinese Language and kpkb here.. Primary standard of Chinese here is like Kindergarten standard in Mainland China...

 

while MM said Shanghai needs to brush up their English to be Financial Hub.. but he should tell Singapore to excel in Chinese to able to work closely to them.. sigh.. no wonder Taiwanese and Hong Key can do business better with China than Singapore.. not only location but it's the common language..

 

I don't think hong konger mandarin are better than us, but becoz singapore businessman are not as cunning or shrewd as taiwaneses or Hong Konger.. China sees Singaprean as easy to makan, compare to the other.