05 Oct 2006

Recommendations of the English Language Curriculum and Pedagogy Review

1. The Ministry of Education (MOE) has accepted the key recommendations of the English Language Curriculum and Pedagogy Review Committee (ELCPRC). Set up in September 05, the Committee undertook a comprehensive review of the teaching and learning of English Language in schools, and has made a number of recommendations for improvement.
2. Bilingualism is and will remain a cornerstone of our education system. We need to ensure that our students have a good grounding in both their mother tongues and English. The English Language review follows from the Mother Tongue Language reviews undertaken in the last two years.
3. Overall, our students are competent in English, but there is significant scope for improvement in certain areas. Singapore students do fairly well in reading literacy, but standards of oral and written communication are highly uneven. Some employers have observed a decline in oral fluency, writing skills and the ability to communicate with impact.
4. We aim to strengthen our students’ command of English while achieving the best international standards among the most able. We will work towards the following desired outcomes:
   • Our students should be comfortable using English to express themselves and enjoy learning the language.
   • All should attain foundational skills, particularly in grammar, spelling and basic pronunciation. They should be able to use English comfortably in everyday situations and for functional purposes.
   • A majority who have the potential should develop a good level of proficiency in both speech and writing. Some in this group who have a flair for the language will find this an advantage in frontline positions, and various service industries.
   • A significant number of approximately 20% should acquire a high degree of proficiency in the English language. They will help Singapore keep its edge in a range of professions, and play an important role in teaching and the media. Their command of English should be on a par with the equivalent group in countries such as the UK, US and Australia. Further, within this group, we can expect a smaller group of Singaporeans to achieve mastery in their command of the language, no different from the best in these English-speaking countries.
5. Recognising the different home language backgrounds, learning needs and interests of our students, the Committee has recommended a new curriculum that is rigorous, yet flexible. To ensure that the new curriculum is successfully delivered, the Committee has also recommended strengthening teacher recruitment, training and development, improving support for schools and developing partnerships with the community.

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

A CURRICULUM FOR THE SINGAPORE CONTEXT

6. We have a diverse range of EL learners. There is a need to design a curriculum customized to Singapore’s needs. This involves adopting not just a first or second language approach, but a principled blend of both. A contextualized approach to EL learning will be complemented by systematic and explicit grammar instruction.

Primary EL Curriculum

Building a Strong Foundation in the Primary School Years

7. The EL curriculum will focus on developing oral confidence, grammar knowledge and a love for reading to anchor EL learning throughout the primary school years.
8. To cater to the learning needs of students without prior exposure to English, the lower primary curriculum will be strengthened. Strategies for Effective and Engaged Development in English Language (SEED-EL), a programme being piloted in the lower primary curriculum in 30 schools this year, will be phased in in all schools by 2009.
9. Students who need additional help will continue to be supported by an enhanced Learning Support Programme. The enhanced programme is designed to provide for a more focused approach to building basic language and reading skills and will be implemented in all schools in 2007.

Secondary EL Curriculum

Consolidating Language Learning with Focus on Oral Skills

10. Secondary students will revisit and build on foundational skills, in particular, grammar and spoken English. To ensure there is sufficient emphasis on the teaching of spoken English in the secondary curriculum, the weighting for the assessment of oral communication at ‘N’ and ‘O’ levels will be increased from 20% to 25%.

EL at Pre-University

New English Language Subject

11. A new subject, English Language, to be offered at H1 and H2 levels, will be introduced at the pre-university level from 2009. H1 and H2 EL will encompass the critical study of language and communication to deepen students’ understanding, use and appreciation of the language. This will be distinct from the General Paper, Knowledge & Inquiry and Literature. H1 and H2 EL could be offered as a contrasting subject for students majoring in the Sciences, and will be an additional option for those majoring in the Arts, who may offer it in addition to Literature.

English Language Elective Programme (ELEP)

12. To encourage students at the Junior College (JC) level to excel in the language, MOE will introduce the English Language Elective Programme in 1-2 JCs from 2009. Students in the programme will study H1 or H2 EL as one of their subjects. While students in non-ELEP centres may offer H1 or H2 EL, the ELEP centres will be given additional resources to consolidate their strengths in EL¹.

TEACHER RECRUITMENT, TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

13. Teachers are key to achieving good educational outcomes for EL. The recruitment of adequate numbers of qualified EL teachers is a priority, especially given the growing competition for EL graduates from the expanding media and service sectors.
14. MOE aims to enlarge the pool of EL teachers in schools, and do more to attract those with high proficiency in the language. To attract qualified EL undergraduates and graduates into teaching, MOE will offer more teaching awards. Through the English Language Elective Programme, MOE also hopes to grow a ready pool of students who have a flair for the language and encourage them to consider teaching as a career. To add to the number of teachers who are highly proficient in English as well as to inject diversity into the teaching of EL, MOE will continue to recruit suitable foreign EL teachers.
15. Starting from January 2007, the following recommendations on teacher training will be implemented in phases.
    1. Language and Content Enhancement for Trainee Teachers for Primary Schools. Primary school trainee teachers with EL as one of their teaching subjects will undergo an additional English enhancement course in the teacher preparatory programmes at the National Institute of Education (NIE). The course aims to strengthen the EL content knowledge and language proficiency of these trainee teachers.
    2. Content Enhancement for Trainee Teachers for Secondary Schools. Trainee secondary EL teachers in the post-graduate diploma programmes will undergo an additional course in English Language in their pre-service programme at NIE. This course is designed for these trainee EL teachers to enhance their content and pedagogical knowledge.
    3. Regular In-service Courses. MOE will continue to organise in-service courses for EL teachers to build teacher capacity. To enhance the EL environment in schools, MOE will work closely with school clusters to organise customised courses in spoken EL to encourage not only EL teachers but all English-medium teachers to speak well.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS

16. To support schools in implementing enhancements to the EL curriculum as well as initiating school-wide programmes, MOE will work towards the following:
    1. Two Additional English Language Teachers in Secondary Schools. MOE will deploy two more EL teachers in all secondary schools by 2010. This will be part of MOE’s plans to deploy an average of 10 additional teachers in every school by 2010².
    2. At least one EL Specialist Teacher in Every Primary School. MOE will work towards ensuring that all primary schools have at least one teacher specialising in EL pedagogy by 2010. This specialist EL teacher will work with the Head of Department to enhance the EL programmes in the school and also mentor younger teachers.
    3. Two-subject Specialisation. English-medium teachers in primary schools typically teach EL, Maths and Science. MOE recognises the value of having teachers specialise in teaching two subjects instead of three so that these teachers can focus on deepening their knowledge and pedagogical skills, and is exploring the scope to which this is possible. Training and deployment of teachers to specialise in two of three subjects is currently being studied.
    4. Networks & Niches of Excellence. MOE will continue to support schools by developing a network of Mentors and Senior Teachers specializing in EL. MOE will also provide resources to enhance existing strengths in EL teaching in selected schools to help them develop niche programmes in EL.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS & INITIATIVES

17. MOE will continue to work with community and media organizations such as the following to create an environment favourable to the acquisition of EL, both within and beyond schools.
    1. Speak Good English Movement (SGEM)
       In 2007, SGEM and Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) will launch an annual award to recognize outstanding EL, General Paper or Literature teachers. From 2008, a new SGEM School Award will also be established to encourage schools to foster a conducive environment for learning English.
    2. Media Organisations
       SPH will assist in spreading the use of good English through a column in The Sunday Times, ‘English As It Is Broken’. MOE and SPH will collaborate to improve access to literacy for needy students. One example is through SPH subsidising the cost of The Sunday Times for such students. MOE will also work with MediaCorp on programmes targeted at our school-going population such as a new debate series, The Arena.
    3. National Library Board (NLB)
       Together with NLB, MOE will reach out to parents and schools to encourage the reading habit. More Book Clubs and Buddy Reading programmes will be formed and book lists developed to help teachers and parents in selecting age-appropriate books.

BACKGROUND

18. The English Language Curriculum and Pedagogy Review (ELCPR) is undertaken in tandem with the Ministry’s six-year cycle of syllabus review and revision. Given the importance of languages in Singapore, it is also carried out in the context of strengthening bilingual education, a cornerstone of Singapore’s education policy. The ELCPR underscores MOE’s sustained efforts at improving language learning for our students.
19. In drawing up its recommendations, the Committee considered the findings of the research literature on the teaching and learning of EL to better understand the future needs of EL users in both local and global contexts. It considered the feedback and views from various stakeholders through public consultation and dialogue sessions with students, teachers, school leaders, parents, academics and employers. Feedback received through our public consultation channel was considered in the Committee’s recommendations. The Committee also drew insights from surveys of 3,600 students and 1,000 EL teachers, school visits and overseas study trips to India, Hong Kong SAR and New Zealand.
20. Minister of State for Education, RAdm (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, is advisor to the Committee. The Committee, chaired by Director, Curriculum Planning and Development Division, MOE, Ms Ho Peng, comprised school leaders, Heads of Department in EL, MOE officials and academics.