Not their mother tongue but non-Chinese kids are speaking Mandarin
Parents say it gives children competitive edge and helps them learn another culture
By Gan Ling Kai
May 23, 2010
This Primary 5 pupil often gets surprised stares from other students in her Chinese class, taxi drivers, hawker centre uncles and the school bookshop aunties when she speaks fluent Mandarin.
You see, 11-year-old Krtyaka Khatwani is Indian.
Yet, the Tanjong Katong Primary School pupil studies Higher Chinese, and has scored over 85 per cent in most of her Chinese exams.
Krtyaka, who was born in Dubai and has spent most of her childhood here, chose to study Chinese instead of her mother tongue, Hindi.
The Khatwanis are Indian citizens and Singapore permanent residents. Their 7-year-old son, Chaityak, is also studying Chinese in school.
In recent weeks, many Singaporeans have voiced their concerns on whether mother tongue will count for less in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) after Education Minister Ng Eng Hen suggested last month that its weighting could be cut from the current 25 per cent.
But Dr Ng apologised on May 11 for giving that "wrong impression" and confirmed that the weighting will not be changed. Yet debate on mother tongue issues had continued on online forums and even in Parliament.
