More programmes in pipeline for Malay language teachers

SINGAPORE: The Malay Language Centre of Singapore is working with the Language and Literature Agency in Malaysia to create opportunities and enrich programmes for teachers.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Hawazi Daipi, said there are four possible areas of cooperation that are being explored by both parties.

They include facilitating creative writing courses for teachers and training of beginner teachers in the standard pronunciation course. Also on the cards are joint learning camps.

He was speaking at the Malay Language Seminar 2012 on Tuesday morning, which is jointly organised by the Malay Language Centre of Singapore and the Malay Language Unit of the Ministry of Education.

He also said the Malay Language Centre of Singapore sent 12 teachers and officers to the Malay language education, literature and culture conference that was held in Malaysia and Brunei this year.

It is hoped that the initiative will also foster close ties between students from both countries.

Mr Hawazi said: "We hope that our MLEP (Malay Language Elective Programme) students, and students taking the special Malay programmes at secondary-level will be able to get the exposure, learning about culture and language together with their Malaysian friends.

"This kind of exposure is useful in broadening their perception of culture and values, and at the same time build friendship with their friends in Malaysia."

Later in June this year, four teachers and a master teacher will present working papers in Bandung at the Seminar of Pedagogy for Malay Language, Indonesian and Foreign Languages.

The Malay Language Centre of Singapore will also send eight senior teachers to Universiti Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) in Bandung for a structured Immersion Programme. This is part of the Education Ministry's effort to enhance the training of Malay language teachers.