SINGAPORE: More students are taking Higher Chinese at O-level. Last year, they formed 27 per cent of O-level Chinese candidates. This is double the proportion from a decade ago.

Education Minister Ng Eng Hen said the 2004 Chinese Language Review has succeeded in making lessons more interesting for primary school pupils. It has also attracted more students to take Higher Chinese Language.

He noted that the language environment in homes has changed dramatically. Six in 10 Chinese students now come from English-speaking homes, compared to one in 10 in 1982. For Indians, the figure has moved from three to six in 10, and Malays, from 0.5 to 3.5 in 10.

"Students are spending more time online where many platforms, predominantly in English, compete for their attention," said Dr Ng.

He argued that this is why the teaching of Mother Tongue Language has to be reviewed periodically to ensure it can engage students.

He was speaking at the graduation ceremony for students of the Bi-Cultural Chinese Elective Programme, which seeks to develop an in-depth mastery of the language and culture.

It was started by the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan for its five primary schools to produce a core group of pupils who are effectively bilingual.

Dr Ng said: "Proficiency in a language can only come through speaking and practice. We need an environment that will encourage the use of the language not just as a form of communication but as part of the thinking process.

"MOE cannot create this Chinese Language speaking environment alone. I am glad that stakeholders, like the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, are putting in efforts to help create a conducive environment."

- CNA/ir