SPEECH BY MR PETER CHEN, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR
EDUCATION AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE FOURTH GLOBAL
CHINESE CONFERENCE ON COMPUTERS IN EDUCATION [GCCCE 2000]
SINGAPORE, 29 MAY 2000 AT 8.30 AM
AT ORCHARD HOTEL BALLROOM

      The GCCCE annual conference series provides an important forum for sharing and discussion of recent research and development efforts on computers in education, especially in the Asian communities. I understand that this conference will focus on computers in education, with particular emphasis on the use of information technology in the teaching and learning of the Chinese language. This theme is particularly appropriate for educators in Singapore.

      As you are probably aware, the Ministry of Education launched the Masterplan for IT in education 4 years ago. The Masterplan aims to provide an IT-rich teaching and learning environment in our schools. The initial signs are encouraging, with high proportions of our pupils and teachers becoming more proficient in the use of IT for teaching and learning.

      The use of IT for the teaching and learning of the Chinese language is also supportive of our bilingual education policy under which all pupils learn English and their mother tongue. While the unique characteristics of the Chinese language poses challenges to the use of information technology, computers also offer new possibilities for teachers and students in the learning of the Chinese language. On-line electronic dictionaries, for example, simplify the task of using Chinese language dictionaries.

      GCCCE 2000 provides an opportunity for educators and technologists to come together and share ideas and experiences in the use of computers in a Chinese language environment. I hope you will have fruitful deliberations during the conference.

      Thank you.