Last Updated: 11 November 2021
Learning a Mother Tongue Language in primary school
Your child will need to learn a Mother Tongue Language (MTL) as a second language in school. Learn more about the MTL curriculum and how it can benefit your child.
What is Mother Tongue Language (MTL)
Mother Tongue Language (MTL) is offered in Singapore schools as a second language. It is a compulsory subject. There are 3 official MTLs:- Chinese
- Malay
- Tamil
Why it is important
Students can:- Communicate more effectively in MTL.
- Appreciate their cultural heritage.
- Connect with wider communities across Asia and the world.
Who is it for
All students in Singapore primary schools.How it works
- Students of Chinese, Malay and Indian ethnicities will study their own MTLs.
- Students who are Eurasian, of mixed parentage and whose mother tongue is not one of the official MTLs can request to study any of them subject to approval.
- Non-Tamil speaking students of Indian ethnicity can apply to study Non-Tamil Indian Language (Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi or Urdu). These language classes are not provided by MOE and are usually conducted outside of school premises and hours. Find out more information from the Board for the Teaching and Testing of South Asian Languages' website.
Mother Tongue Languages in school
Chinese Language
The Chinese Language curriculum focuses on listening, speaking, reading, writing and interaction skills. It is tailored to your child's abilities and offered in the following modules:
- Core module: for all primary school students.
- Bridging/reinforcement module: if your child needs more help in the language.
- Enrichment module: if your child has a higher aptitude for learning the language.
Malay Language
The Malay Language curriculum focuses on listening, speaking, reading, writing and interaction skills. Your child can progress to different levels of proficiency, depending on interest and abilities.
Tamil Language
The Tamil Language curriculum focuses on listening, speaking, reading, writing and interaction skills.
Higher Mother Tongue Languages
Starting 2022, schools may offer Higher Mother Tongue Languages from P3 onwards. Higher Malay Language and Higher Tamil Language will be offered at P3 from 2022 and at P4 from 2023 onwards. You may approach your child's school for more details.
At the end of Primary 4, your child's school will recommend the subject combination that is most suitable for them in Primary 5. Based on your child's MTL results, these subjects may include Higher Mother Tongue Language in one of the official languages.
At the end of Primary 4, your child's school will recommend the subject combination that is most suitable for them in Primary 5. Based on your child's MTL results, these subjects may include Higher Mother Tongue Language in one of the official languages.
Use SchoolFinder to learn more about the MTLs offered by each school.