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Last Updated: 13 January 2023

Starlight Literacy Programme

Learn how the Starlight Literacy Programme nurtures your child’s language skills through Big Books, songs, rhymes and games set in the local context.

Early childhood literacy

Language learning is a dynamic and ongoing process that begins in infancy and early childhood and continues throughout the schooling years. In early childhood, the focus is on developing children’s listening and speaking skills. An active, interactive approach helps to nurture children’s interest in learning languages.

We use Big Books, songs, rhymes and games to help your child to:

  • Develop listening, speaking and early literacy skills.
  • Enjoy English and their Mother Tongue Language (MTL) (i.e. Chinese, Malay or Tamil language).
  • Communicate with confidence.
  • Learn about local customs and traditions.

MTL and bilingualism

Bilingualism is a cornerstone of Singapore’s education system. Learning our MTL gives us direct access to our cultural heritage, and can help us better understand our values, roots and identities.

At MK, we nurture bilingualism by focusing on listening, speaking and engaging children in games and activities that encourage early literacy development.

By using their MTL to communicate with teachers and their friends on a daily basis, children build a strong foundation that will prepare them for language learning in later years.

Taking a different MTL

MK offers classes in the 3 official MTLs (Chinese, Malay and Tamil). We encourage children of Chinese, Malay and Indian ethnic race to take their own MTLs.

Note: If you opt for your child to study an MTL that’s not related to their ethnic race, this does not give you the approval to offer that MTL at Primary 1. You will need to submit an application to your child's primary school when they enter Primary 1, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis and subject to MOE's approval.