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In fact, they are given priority over Sporns even if they can't even form a damned sentence of Engrish ploperlee!
Apr 24, 2010
Don't lose precious talent
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WITH reference to Education Minister Ng Eng Hen's intention to review the weighting of mother tongue in Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) scores, I am delighted to see such recognition of the unfairness of the present system finally, after decades of damage to students' future and careers ('Mother tongue weighting in PSLE could be cut', Wednesday).
I am of Eurasian and Peranakan heritage. I scraped through the PSLE Chinese exam and went on to secondary school. However, with little exposure to Mandarin outside school and much struggle with the language, I failed the O-level exam despite two attempts in 1981. Although I had four As and three Bs in other subjects and an aggregate of 10 (very good in those days), I could consider only provisional entry to junior college (JC) or pre-university. My ambition was medicine but, weighing the likelihood of getting kicked out of JC or Pre-U if I failed Chinese again and considering my parents' financial background, I gave it up and took the polytechnic route. Thereafter, it was near impossible to pursue local university education with a polytechnic diploma due to restrictions.
I am sure if there had not been such weighting on Chinese, I would have been able to pursue my ambition locally. Other friends in similar situations but financially better off were lucky to further their studies overseas. They are now experts in their fields of medicine and practise overseas.
It is well known that many Singaporeans have migrated in the past and continue to do so because of the unnecessary second language barrier in the education system.
We import foreign talent based on their professional qualifications and do not hamper their entry even if they do not have a second language proficiency. They come to occupy top jobs as well. Is it not ironic that Singaporeans must contend with a second language hurdle that deprives them of a university education and causes a change in career ambitions and opportunities?
It has taken more than 40 years for the Government to recognise this injustice and going forward, I hope it will introduce a fairer system for the benefit of Singaporeans or risk losing more overseas.
Gerard de Souza
Apr 24, 2010
Don't lose precious talent
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<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->
WITH reference to Education Minister Ng Eng Hen's intention to review the weighting of mother tongue in Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) scores, I am delighted to see such recognition of the unfairness of the present system finally, after decades of damage to students' future and careers ('Mother tongue weighting in PSLE could be cut', Wednesday).
I am of Eurasian and Peranakan heritage. I scraped through the PSLE Chinese exam and went on to secondary school. However, with little exposure to Mandarin outside school and much struggle with the language, I failed the O-level exam despite two attempts in 1981. Although I had four As and three Bs in other subjects and an aggregate of 10 (very good in those days), I could consider only provisional entry to junior college (JC) or pre-university. My ambition was medicine but, weighing the likelihood of getting kicked out of JC or Pre-U if I failed Chinese again and considering my parents' financial background, I gave it up and took the polytechnic route. Thereafter, it was near impossible to pursue local university education with a polytechnic diploma due to restrictions.
I am sure if there had not been such weighting on Chinese, I would have been able to pursue my ambition locally. Other friends in similar situations but financially better off were lucky to further their studies overseas. They are now experts in their fields of medicine and practise overseas.
It is well known that many Singaporeans have migrated in the past and continue to do so because of the unnecessary second language barrier in the education system.
We import foreign talent based on their professional qualifications and do not hamper their entry even if they do not have a second language proficiency. They come to occupy top jobs as well. Is it not ironic that Singaporeans must contend with a second language hurdle that deprives them of a university education and causes a change in career ambitions and opportunities?
It has taken more than 40 years for the Government to recognise this injustice and going forward, I hope it will introduce a fairer system for the benefit of Singaporeans or risk losing more overseas.
Gerard de Souza
