Milestones for some, millstones for others

1969: Second language becomes a compulsory paper in the GCE O-level examination.

1973: Double weighting applies to second language at the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE), equal to first language.

1979: An Education Ministry report by then Deputy Prime Minister Goh Keng Swee and his team recognises that not everyone can be effectively bilingual and recommends streaming in schools. The streaming process is later modified over the years.

• Requirement for second language to be a student’s mother tongue, in accordance with his or her race.

• Minimum grade of C6 for English as a first language and E8 for second language needed for admission to pre-university.
Second language requirement tightened to D7 in 1980.

1981: Minimum grade of D7 for mother tongue needed for admission to the National University of Singapore. Second language grade counted in overall university admission score.

1985: Double weighting on languages at PSLE removed, although both the English and Chinese language still have equal weight.

1992: New Chinese textbooks with more cultural content introduced by curriculum review committee headed by then DPM Ong Teng Cheong.

1999: Curriculum review led by then DPM Lee Hsien Loong scaled back content of Chinese textbooks and introduced Chinese Language B syllabus for weaker students, while allowing more students to do Higher Chinese.

2004: Curriculum review headed by then director-general of education Wee Heng Tin introduced modular approach for teaching Chinese in primary schools, customised to language ability.

The Chinese language grade could be dropped from aggregate score for entry to university, although the minimum required grade is still D7.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.(November 27, 2009)

http://www.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20091128-182809.html