The Weightage of Chinese Language

The weightage of Chinese Language for the PSLE is in debate recently. Personally, I would call those who call for a reduction of the weightage quitters. Although the argument that English is the medium used in all administrations in Singapore, the value of the Chinese cannot be ignored.

I used to be rather good in my Chinese. I remember scoring A1s when I was a student. But the truth is that with lack of usage over the years, my standard in the language has deteriorated much. However, I pride myself as having once exposed myself extensively in the language. For the value in a language is not in the usage, but the appreciation in its culture. I cannot write or read as well in Chinese as when I was a student, but my appreciation for it grows with time. The tenacity to work on doing well for it is also a lesson well-learned.

If you worry about the “Brain Drain” due to an inability to do well in the Chinese, then maybe we should be aware that these are also “weaker brains” that can’t cope. Then they should just go. I will not miss them.

JC or POLY

For the past few days, the local newspapers carried the story of whether the local universities should allow a larger percentage of POLY graduates to enter the universities (at the expense of the JC students). Here is a brief of my take.

Firstly, the JCs are designed to prepare students for universities.

I appreciate the embracing gestures of the universities to admit POLY graduates. I believe this allows "slow-starters" an opportunity for higher education. And I admire those who, having had to go to the ITE, work hard, and progress to POLY and then the universities. These are the fighters.

But I have no sympathy for those who qualified for JC, but chose to go POLY on their own free will and then whine about not being given a shot at the university.

Go to the JCs if the university had always been your target. If you can't make it to the JC, but still wished to study at the highest level, then you ought to prove that you deserve to be with the best.

And remember that an university offered to you means an opportunity lost to another. Universities graduates owes the society a profound debt of gratitude. It is a privilege, NOT a right.

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