Yap Kim Hung is staying firm in his fight to preserve the Chinese language even as English-speaking families continue to grow in Singapore. Mr Yap, 35, is currently a head of department year head at Anglo-Chinese School.
Understanding that a constant flow of Chinese teachers is needed to impart the relevant knowledge and values to the younger generation, he makes grooming talents one of his main priorities as the president of the Singapore Chinese Teachers’ Union (SCTU). He shares with us his experiences and reflections so far.
NTUC This Week: Tell us about your journey as a unionist.
I joined the union in 2008 when I was still a student at the National Institute of Education (NIE). At that time, I was introduced to the union by a mentor who was serving as a welfare officer. After I got to know more about what SCTU does to protect the rights of Chinese teachers, I was inspired to contribute more as an executive committee (exco) member.
At the beginning, I was more of an observing member and familiarised myself with the basics of union work. It was only after I became the treasurer that I became more involved in industrial relations cases which involved members appealing to the Ministry of Education (MOE). In the course of my work, I started to understand more about fair labour practices and get in touch with Brothers and Sisters from the various unions. I find meaning in helping members in need and it is a way for me to give back to society.
What are your most memorable milestones?
I remember in 2010 when Chinese teachers rallied and petitioned for the Chinese language to maintain its standing as a critical and essential language in Singapore. It was a move to prevent Chinese from being sidelined as a non-examinable subject, which could possibly lead to the eroding of Chinese values and render Chinese teachers in excess.
Although this move was not initiated by the union, we issued a statement which stated our strong stance against the notion. That was the moment when I saw the unity of Chinese teachers and the passion with which my seniors in the union stood up for the community.
In the end, we were glad that the authorities took the petition seriously and gave assurance that the mother tongue language status remained the same.
As the use of English as a primary language grows, what are some of the challenges SCTU faces?
We see lesser local Chinese teachers in schools nowadays compared to the past. As a local Chinese teacher, I strongly feel that we need a healthy pool of local Chinese teachers so that our Singaporean tradition and values are intact and passed down to the next generation.
We have engaged in conversations with MOE’s human resource department about our concerns and they have since been paying more attention to their recruitment. We have also gone into NIE to recruit local Chinese teachers as our members and groom them to eventually join our exco.
Insider's Guide
Date of Registration: 8 September 1953
Date of Affiliation to NTUC: 21 March 1989
Membership: Over 1,800 educators from more than 300 schools.
Did You Know? Apart from representing the Chinese Language teachers in Singapore on issues close to their hearts and holding relevant activities for them and their loved ones, SCTU actively contributes to the professional development of Chinese teachers. It organises a forum every two years with foreign universities to promote exchange of ideas and provide a platform for Chinese teachers to share their thoughts. SCTU also publishes an internationally-recognised journal on Chinese Language education twice annually.
