Singapore to enhance Chinese teaching in schools

Speaking to the parliament this afternoon, Lee noted that Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, in his national day rally speech in 1997, spoke of the importance of maintaining Singapore's Asian heritage and particularly the challenge faced by the Chinese community in maintaining its roots.

Lee quoted Goh as highlighting on that occasion the issue of "reproducing a core group of Singaporeans who are steeped in Chinese cultural heritage, history, literature and arts."

"We need them to be Chinese language teachers, writers, journalists, community leaders, MPs and ministers," Lee quoted Goh as saying.

The deputy prime minister said that while English is and will be Singapore's common working language, the Chinese language is "the mother tongue" that "gives us a crucial part of our values, roots and identity."

"It gives us direct access to our cultural heritage, and a world view that complements the perspectives of the English-speaking world," he added.

He added that globalisation and the knowledge economy require Singaporeans to develop among them a sense of Singaporean identity and belonging through learning the mother tongue as they have many opportunities to live and work overseas in the process.

He pointed out that as China' rapid growth and opening-up will continue and it will become a major global player in the 21st century, command of the Chinese language will be a valuable asset for many jobs and careers even if the person does not live or work in China.

The deputy prime minister announced that the government will encourage more students to study Chinese in schools and achieve a deeper understanding of Chinese culture.