Students Attending Tamil Language Lessons in Regional Centres and Measures to Reduce Need for Them to Travel

17 Mr Leong Mun Wai asked the Minister for Education (a) what proportion of primary and secondary school students learning the Tamil language attend lessons at the Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre or other regional centres; (b) what is the median travelling time for such students to attend Tamil language lessons; and (c) what measures are being taken to reduce the need for such students to travel and attend Tamil language lessons.

Mr Chan Chun Sing: Given the limited availability of Tamil Language (TL) teachers, they are deployed to schools where the need for in-school instruction is greatest. All the Ministry of Education kindergarten and primary TL students now learn TL in their own school. At the secondary level, about 90% of TL students study TL in their own school.

Students in secondary schools that do not offer TL instruction attend lessons at one of 11 school-based TL centres or at the Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre. These centres are spread out across Singapore to reduce the travelling time of students and they can opt to attend lessons at the centre that is closest to their school or home.