October 30, 2005

From the papers...30

SINGAPORE : Students will be able to use handheld electronic Chinese language dictionaries in national exams from 2007.

The Education Ministry says this is for the Chinese Language composition part of the PSLE and GCE 'N', 'O' and 'A' levels.

Only handheld electronic dictionaries approved by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board will be allowed.

It has approved the Hansvision Handheld Dictionary PX2051, developed especially for this purpose by Creative Technology, in collaboration with the Education Ministry.

The Chinese Language to Chinese Language electronic dictionary costs S$24 each, and Creative Technology will make necessary arrangements with schools for students to buy them.

Developers of other such dictionaries may submit their products for approval through the Education Ministry.

Currently, approved print dictionaries can be used in 'O' level Mother Tongue composition exams, and from next year, also in PSLE Mother Tongue composition exams.

Last year, the Chinese Language Review Committee recommended the use of the handheld electronic device in compositions to enhance the learning of the Chinese Language. - CNA /ct

xxx

Happened to be on MSN with girl on that night when I heard the above news over the TV.

I said...
Well, yet another mind boggling irony about singapore. no wonder we need creative younger generation to suss out the solution to the problem. except... i think, the younger gen IS the problem now. my gosh... i didn't even bother to roll my eyes just now when i heard the news about the new digital chinese dictionary that the students can bring to ch compo exam.
why don't they just discard chinese as a subject? make it an optional thing.. u know... if ur parents have biz links in china, n u wanna inherit the biz, then take the subj lah.. else.. why bother?

I also said...
every year national day or sthg, every school give one free digital ch dict to the students lah.... just in case they need to speak the lang to order a plate of char kway teow. then again, there's always macdonalds.
can u believe it??? i dunno wat the hell is in the MOE guys head lor..

I then said...
erm, the surface objective is... students will ve easier time? the deeper objective? the digital dict is by *****ive tech.. and guess who gets the most profit out of this?

I ended off saying...
MOE disappoints again and again when it comes to ch edu in singapore.
now students dun even need to appreciate the process of turning pages of ch dictionary to find a word.

Now I say...
Absurdities never cease when it comes to education in Singapore.

Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 14:25