Mr S Iswaran at the Hindi Centre's Prize Giving Day, National Day and Raksha Bandhan Celebrations

SPEECH BY MR S ISWARAN SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY AT THE HINDI CENTRES’ PRIZE GIVING DAY, NATIONAL DAY AND RAKSHABANDHAN CELEBRATIONS 16 AUGUST 2008, 10.00AM, BENDEMEERPRIMARY SCHOOL

Mr Sivakant Tiwari, President of the Hindi Society and Chairman of the Hindi Centres

Teachers, Parents, Students

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good Morning

Introduction

It gives me great pleasure to join all of you here this morning for this triple celebration - of the academic achievements of our students at the Hindi Centres, of the traditional Raksha Bandhan festival, and of Singapore’s 43rd National Day.

Importance Accorded to Mother Tongue Language

I am very happy to note that our students continue to excel in their Hindi examinations at all levels.Last year, 86 per cent of students taking Hindi as a mother tongue language obtained a distinction in Hindi at PSLE, while close to 50 per cent obtained a distinction at the N, O and A Level examinations.

These sterling achievements reflect the importance that students, parents and the community have accorded to the learning of the mother tongue. I believe that this commitment to the mother tongue stems from a deep realisation that it is not a mere acquisition of language competency.Fundamentally, it is about the transmission of culture, the inculcation of values and principles, and the preservation of traditions and customs.I am therefore particularly pleased that you have chosen to incorporate Raksha Bandhan in today’s event.It enlivens this traditional celebration of the bond between brother and sister within the context of a modern urban Singapore with which our youth are more familiar.

The mother tongue languages also take on an important economic dimension in this era of globalisation. Singapore’s multi-racial and multi-cultural make-up give us a unique advantage when working with the major growing economies of the world – China, India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.We are an important node in the cultural and economic diaspora of these old and proud civilisations.

In Singapore, we endeavour to give every student the opportunity to learn his or her mother tongue - be it Chinese, Malay, Tamil or other Indian languages like Hindi, Bengali Gujerati, Punjabi or Urdu.In this regard, the Hindi Centres provide an important avenue for the study of Hindi. Besides the cultural diemension, proficiency in Hindi will enable our youth to connect with millions of Hindi speakers in India, and open up tremendous opportunities for trade and business links with one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

Tribute to the Hindi Society and Hindi Centres

Over the last eight years, the Hindi Society has made a signal contribution by ensuring that the language continues to flourish in Singapore, and providing Hindi instruction to over 2,000 students through the Hindi Centres. The classes, which are held at seven Hindi Centres, cover the entire spectrum of a formal Hindi education.

The Hindi Centres have also adapted to the growing and changing needs of students and parents for the study of Hindi. I understand that over the past year, Parallel Hindi Programmes (PHP) classes have commenced in nine new schools, increasing the number of schools where Hindi classes are conducted to 47. This means that even more students can now learn Hindi in their schools during the designated Mother Tongue language periods.

The Hindi Society has strived to keep the teaching material current. Arising from the last review of teaching materials by the Society’s Curriculum Development Committee, new workbooks and a model composition book have been prepared for the Secondary and A-Level classes. The drawing up of new teaching material and study aids is by no means an easy task, and it is all the more remarkable that it has been done by a group of individuals driven by their passion for the language and desire to impart cultural traditions to our young.

So, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you – teachers, volunteers, parents and members of the Hindi community – for your dedication to the work of the Hindi Society and Hindi Centres. The achievements of the Society and Centres would not be possible without your dedication and efforts, and they stand as a tribute to the community’s resilience, pride and spirit of self-help.

Conclusion

I would also like to congratulate all the prize winners for their outstanding performance in the examinations.We are proud of all your achievements and I encourage you to build on these successes, as individuals and as a community, and strive for even greater heights.Thank you.