INTRODUCTION

Opening remarks in Tamil (attached).

THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY IN PROMOTING TAMIL LANGUAGE

1.         This evening, we have seen some of the fruits of the Jurong Indian Activity Executive Committee’s (JIAEC) work in developing Indian arts and culture.  I am pleased that the JIAEC has also been promoting the use of Tamil Language, for example, through debates and oratorical competitions.  It is encouraging to see various organisations in the Indian community actively working towards this cause.  These community-based initiatives are absolutely essential in making Tamil a living language and keeping Indian culture as a vibrant part of Singapore life. 

2.         As you know, the Tamil Language Curriculum and Pedagogy Review Committee was set up at the beginning of this year and its work is progressing well.  The review team will complete its work and submit its report to the Ministry of Education in August this year.  One of the key areas the committee is looking into is community support for promoting and sustaining Tamil Language in Singapore.

3.         The trend of language use in Singapore has shown a clear shift in our homes.  Increasingly, young students come from homes where English is the main language used.

4.         It will require concerted effort by all in the community to keep the Tamil language alive and relevant to our young. We will have to make changes in  Tamil language curriculum and teaching in our schools to help achieve this. But schools alone cannot achieve this. The community and homes play a critical role. 

5.         This is especially because the Tamil community in Singapore is a small one, of 4-5% of the Singapore population. Compared to the Chinese or Malay languages, there are fewer natural, everyday opportunities for our young to use the Tamil language amongst their friends, on the MRT or in the shops, and in our neighbourhoods.

6.         The community faces a greater challenge than the Chinese and Malay communities in this respect. It has to be proactive in addressing this challenge of ensuring Tamil remains a living language for our young. We have to find fresh ways of encouraging youngsters to use and enjoy the language, and to encourage some of them to master it. We also have to work with parents to keep the language alive in the home.

7.         If schools, community organizations and parents work together, we can ensure that our young continue to use the language, find it relevant to their lives, take pride in their culture and roots, and in so doing strengthen their sense of identity as citizens in multi-cultural Singapore.

8.         The whole community has the responsibility to ensure that the Tamil language does not fade away in Singapore over the next 20 years.

PART-TIME DEGREE IN TAMIL LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

9.         In schools, our Tamil Language teachers are the key players in bringing the language to life for their students.  They have been diligent in their efforts to educate our young well. They are also constantly seek to increase their own level of competency in order to be better teachers to their students. 

10.       As we do not currently have local degree programmes for Tamil Language, some of our teachers have been pursuing their degrees in universities in India.  In view of this situation, the Singapore Tamil Teachers Union (STTU) and the Ministry of Education have been working together to open new opportunities for our teachers to develop professionally.

11.       I am pleased to announce that from July this year, the Singapore Institute of Management Open University Centre (SIM-OUC) will offer a 3-year part-time Bachelor of Arts programme in Tamil Language and Literature (BA(TLL)).  The programme will be conducted in collaboration with the Madurai Kamaraj University in TamilNadu, India.  The Ministry of Education will allocate a sum of $640,000 for SIM-OUC to set up and run the programme for the initial 5 years.

12.       SIM-OUC targets to take in 30 to 50 students a year for the programme.  Among others, the programme is envisaged to cater to non-graduate Tamil Language teachers who wish to upgrade their proficiency in the Tamil Language. 

13.       The BA programme in Tamil Language and Literature is part of the Ministry’s collaboration with all our stakeholders to promote the professional development of our teachers. 

CONCLUSION

14.            Tonight’s festival is a showcase of the rich cultural heritage that we have – a heritage that requires the continual support of the entire community. With the combined effort of parents, teachers and community organisations we can promote and sustain passion for the Tamil Language and Indian culture. Do enjoy the rest of tonight’s programme.

Opening remarks in Tamil