A recent proposal by Leader of the Opposition, Pritam Singh, advocated for an English test when assessing a person’s application for citizenship or permanent residency in Singapore, has sparked a heated debate among politicians and the public. While critics suggest that the proposal may be discriminatory and unnecessary, one Minister’s critic seem to suggest he is still living in the 1960s.
Importance of English Language is Everywhere
Singapore is a multilingual society that values the use of English in daily life, including education, business, and social interactions. A good command of English is essential for new citizens to access education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, and to communicate with their fellow citizens. English is the common language taught across all races and almost everything is taught in English language in the local schools. Everywhere you turn and look, we see the English language being used and communicated. We don’t see our schools introducing English “B” into the curriculum, but instead introduce Mother Tongue Language “B”.
Furthermore, a mandatory English proficiency test for applicants for new citizenship could help address issues of social and economic inequality, as it would ensure that those who wish to settle in Singapore have a minimum level of proficiency in the country’s official language. This would make it easier for new citizens to integrate into Singaporean society and to build social connections with their fellow citizens.
A Minister Still Living In the 1960s
A Minister noted that a “significant proportion of Singaporeans throughout our history have not been able to speak English well”. Citing his 96-year-old grandmother as an example, he added: “If we had years ago applied this test, then someone like her may not have made it into Singapore.” That comment was amazing, I was dumbfounded. I didn’t realise that we were still living in the 1960s Singapore! For goodness sake, don’t just reject for the sake of rejecting just because the proposal came from opposition party!
In any case, it isn’t true that a “significant proportion of Singaporeans throughout our history have not been able to speak English well”. At the 9th Mother Tongue Languages Symposium (e-MTLS) in 2020, during a speech by then Minister for Education Lawrence Wong, he shared that in a study by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) on race, religion and language in 2018, base on 4,000 respondents ‘78% of survey respondents said they could speak English “well” or “very well”.’
Other Countries Already Adopted The Test
Several countries around the world, including Canada, Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, require new immigrants to demonstrate their proficiency in English as part of their immigration process. These countries recognize the importance of language proficiency for successful integration into their societies and the economic benefits of having a multilingual workforce. Even these first world countries have adopted such an approach, why are we not considering it at all?
Critics of the proposal argue that it may create unnecessary barriers for new citizens and prevent skilled workers and talented individuals from coming to Singapore. However, it is important to note that the proposed test would be a minimum requirement, and that the government could still provide additional support and resources for migrants to learn English.
That being said, the proposal for a mandatory English proficiency test for applicants for new citizenship in Singapore has its critics, but it also has several potential benefits. As a multicultural society that values the use of English, it is important for Singapore to ensure that new citizens have a basic level of proficiency in the language. A mandatory English proficiency test could help achieve this goal and contribute to a more inclusive and integrated society.
