SINGAPORE — Responding to growing concerns about the diminishing proficiency in mother tongue languages, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong pledged the government’s continued support for bilingualism and cultural preservation in Singapore.

As part of this commitment, more students will be granted the opportunity to study Higher Mother Tongue languages in secondary school, provided they perform well in these subjects during their primary school years. This announcement was made by Mr. Wong on Sunday (Aug 18) during his first National Day Rally, delivered in Mandarin.

Currently, students need to meet specific overall scores in their Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) to qualify for Higher Mother Tongue at the secondary level. However, Mr. Wong noted that some students who excel in their mother tongue subjects do not meet the overall score requirement. The new policy aims to support these students, allowing them to take up Higher Mother Tongue despite not meeting the current criteria. Further details will be announced by the Ministry of Education at a later date.

Preserving Singapore’s Cultural Heritage

In his Mandarin address, Mr. Wong emphasized the importance of preserving Singapore’s traditional cultures. He reiterated the government’s commitment to working with all communities to pass down cultural heritage to future generations. As part of this effort, he referenced the recent launch of Culturepaedia, an online resource developed by the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) to document Singaporean Chinese culture. The platform currently hosts 150 articles contributed by over 80 experts, covering topics such as literature, art, and music.

Mr. Wong stressed that although English is Singapore’s working language, the country remains rooted in Asian traditions. He emphasized the need to retain Singapore’s Asian heritage and traditional values, which he believes sets the nation apart globally. Singapore’s “bilingual and bicultural advantage,” according to Mr. Wong, has been key to the nation’s ability to connect with other countries and remain competitive in the global economy.

He also expressed hope that more parents would encourage the use of Mandarin at home. Citing a 2020 study by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Mr. Wong pointed out that a higher percentage of younger parents (61% of those aged 26 to 35) primarily use English with their children, compared to only 45% of parents aged 56 to 65.

Supporting the Malay-Muslim Community

In his Malay speech, Mr. Wong reaffirmed the government’s commitment to preserving Malay-Muslim culture and heritage. He pledged support for the Malay-Muslim community’s efforts to balance modernity with tradition, promising more details on plans for the Singapore College of Islamic Studies, first proposed in 2016. This institution aims to cultivate future Islamic leaders in Singapore.

“I will work with you to foster a Malay-Muslim community that is both modern and forward-thinking, while maintaining its distinct customs and way of life,” Mr. Wong assured.

A Multicultural Future for Singapore

Closing his Mandarin speech, Mr. Wong offered a metaphor for Singapore’s multicultural society, comparing it to a plate of Hainanese curry rice, which incorporates elements from different cultural cuisines. The dish, he explained, blends Western-style fried pork chops with Nyonya curry chicken, Indian spices, and Chinese braised gravy.

“Each of our races has its own vibrant culture, yet we remain inclusive and united. This is the essence of Singapore,” he said. “I believe that as long as we continue to work together, our culture will not only endure but thrive and evolve, becoming even more vibrant for future generations.”