The recent controversy surrounding the reduction of the weight of mother tongue in primary school examinations, which has sparked heated public discussion, has finally reached a clear conclusion. In a joint press conference, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister of Education Ong Ye Kung unequivocally conveyed the government's position: the authorities do not intend to lower the social status of the mother tongue, nor do they intend to reduce its weight in the Primary Six examinations. For those concerned about the mother tongue, this is indeed a reassuring matter.
Following the publication of the Minister's exclusive interview, the intense public demand to maintain the weight of mother tongue results has been expressed through various channels. Both the Lianhe Zaobao and English newspapers have received numerous letters from readers, most of whom oppose the reduction of the mother tongue's weight; there have also been spontaneous online petitions advocating for the maintenance of the mother tongue's examination weight; and the Mother’s Day signature campaign held a few days ago at Fengshan Park in Singapore clearly demonstrated the public's concern and mainstream opinion.
Regarding why the government took nearly three weeks to clarify the growing public unease and doubts, Prime Minister Lee explained that it was precisely because the matter is significant that time was needed to clarify the government's policy considerations on mother tongue education, in order to provide the public with a comprehensive account. The authorities' positive response to public calls not only helps to consolidate the social status of mother tongue education but also demonstrates the government's good attitude in listening to public opinion and responding to public sentiment, which is undoubtedly significant for strengthening public feedback and establishing a rational interaction model between the government and the public in the future.
The challenges facing mother tongue education today are not recent developments, and the reasons are complex; in the face of numerous issues in mother tongue teaching, it is essential to proceed with caution to avoid exacerbating the problems. During the press conference, Prime Minister Lee pointed out in Mandarin that the rapid changes in Singapore's linguistic environment mean that existing teaching and assessment methods must also keep pace with the times. The public is unlikely to disagree with this point. He further emphasized that improving and enhancing teaching methods not only requires more resource investment but also cannot be without political support. Therefore, the government needs to make a strong political commitment to maintain consistent policies over the long term to achieve the desired goals. We believe that this statement not only indicates the government's strengthened position on mother tongue education but also helps to dispel any future perceptions of policy fluctuations regarding the mother tongue.
This public opinion's rapid reaction to the ambiguous policy signals is undoubtedly a positive phenomenon reflecting the increasing maturity of Singaporean society. In response to this unexpectedly strong backlash, Prime Minister Lee interpreted it positively as evidence of the long-term success of mother tongue education policies. Many parents who have experienced bilingual education correctly recognize the importance of the Chinese language and hope that their children can also master it well. How to leverage this unexpectedly positive consensus arising from the controversy to further promote the development and enhancement of Chinese language education in Singapore, creating a conducive environment for the use of Chinese in daily life, and ensuring that students learn a lively, vibrant, and practical language in school, relies on the collective efforts and wisdom of all sectors of society.
Teaching according to students' abilities allows students with different learning paces to progress at their own rate; treating all students equally, without deliberately lowering the language potential achievable by the majority due to the learning difficulties of a very small number of students, should be the main message conveyed by the press conference. Of course, while we should not throw the baby out with the bathwater, we also cannot overlook the very small number of students with low mother tongue learning abilities, ensuring they can overcome their learning difficulties and not develop aversion to the mother tongue. Learning should be a joyful experience; appropriate pressure can promote learning, but excessive pressure can be counterproductive. Mother tongue education is continuously and painstakingly seeking a balance among these various demands. The road ahead is long and arduous; Prime Minister Lee quoted from the Analects, "Knowing it is impossible yet still striving to do it," as a reminder for those concerned about mother tongue education.
