I&E events/activities in 2004

LS for MT - TL

The above programme was started in a bid to help the slow learners from Primary one in their Mother Tongue, Tamil. These students who do not have a strong foundation in the language are identified by a test where they are screened out and admitted to this programme which is currently considered a co-curricular activity.

The student's extent of knowledge in the subject is further assessed by a few diagnostic tests where they were asked to identify certain Tamil alphabets starting from the most basic and fundamental few progressing on to the more complicated ones.

Currently, there are two students participating in the programme where each week one Tamil alphabet is taught to these students. Not only is there a concentration on the writing and recognition of the alphabets but the language is further enforced through word games and other activities planned out for the students.

The programme started in January 2004 has proved successful and thus it has been planned that this plan is carried out into the next year but this time as part of the curriculum. If it is further effective, it will be carried out in the years to come.

It is also planned that in the years to come more students will be recruited into this programme so as to strengthen their fundamentals in the language so as to prevent them from falling behind in the years to come.

The Learning Support Programme (LSP) gives students who are not blessed with strong foundations in the language due to the fact that either they studied Chinese in Kindergarten or they do not converse in Tamil at their homes, a chance to excel in the subject and thus, mother tongue would not be viewed as a tough subject amongst students.

In conclusion, the Learning Support Programme (LSP) for Mother Tongue, Tamil has proved effective and will be carried over into next year with the only change being that instead of being a co-curricular activity as it was this year (2004) it will be part of the school curriculum.