Help on ML exemption

[thetinyseed]

Musings:

Hi


Can someone shed some light on the criteria for exemption from MT?

Because I have a younger child (still in preschool) who has speech delay and is seeing KKH speech therapist on a monthly basis. Based on child development unit doctors in KKH, he does not have other developmental issues but just speech delay. Of course speech therapy is to work only on his English pronunciation. But he also has problems distinguishing and speaking the 4 sounds of chinese characters.

Have been seriously considering exemption from MT - but not sure if he will qualify or what supporting documents (psychologist report?) is required. I have only heard of those with Asperger or autism who manage to obtain exemption.

would appreciate some feedback from those who had obtained MT exemption. Thanks.

As long as you have either a psychologist or in your case, a speech therapist report, you can apply for MT exemption. This is not guaranteed. But if you strongly feel your child should be exempted, you will need to \"fight\" your case. If your child starts P1 without approval for exemption, the school teachers may recommend exemption if your child is struggling to cope.

[mom-of-2 0]

poots:

Kids who are exempted are not really penalized, apart from not being able to go to SAP schools where Chinese is compulsory. However, if they do well enough at PSLE to qualify to learn a 3rd language in secondary school, and they choose to do so, they will have to offer this as a 2nd language and will not be allowed to drop it later. A big advantage of exemption is that they are deemed to have satisfied the MT requirement for entry to local university, and will be exempted all the way through sec sch / JC. They might get penalized in the job market though.

It's not true that MT exempted kids are excluded from SAP school. My daughter's classmate in NYGH is exempted from MT although she apparently enjoys all other Chinese related classes such as wushu, Chinese dance and Chinese speech and drama.

[mashy]

Hi!


I would like to check, after exemption, do they give u a letter? Do they state the reason for exemption?

Coz When applying for uni, I’m wondering do we need to submit proof that our kids have been exempted from MTL.

[mashy]

slmkhoo:

mashy:

Hi!


I would like to check, after exemption, do they give u a letter? Do they state the reason for exemption?

Coz When applying for uni, I'm wondering do we need to submit proof that our kids have been exempted from MTL.

MOE issues a letter giving the exemption. The letter my daughter received does not state a reason.

Thank you! I'm wondering will I have to keep telling everyone the reason until I run out of pp to tell. great that they don't state the reason.

[Parent2008]

poots:

I've a S1 kid in a Band 1 SAP school & a P6 one who is exempted from MT. The S1 kid is doing MT, not HMT (among a minority in this school).


If you have a genuine case for exemption, I think you should go for it! All the more as I gather Chinese is not even your child's MT!! A poor CL grade will REALLY affect the PSLE score (especially as over 80% of the cohort gets A/A*). Getting U grade (<20%) means automatic retention. Running on 3 subjects, a kid cannot expect to top the Nation, but up to 260+ is possible and many schools including top ones like RI / RGS (but not SAP) accept them thru DSA or thru MOE posting exercise.

Your child can always pick up CL at his own pace after PSLE, and sit for exams a few times (many kids do O Levels CL separately from other subjects anyway - and sitting for it twice is also quite normal). Those who argue that this is unfair do not understand that some kids have a genuine basis for exemption, and that MOE makes provisions for them. If the MOE panel of specialists has approved the exemption, no one has the right to judge you harshly. What can I say ... surely a one-legged child should not be expected to compete with able-bodied 2-legged children in running. If you need further advice, do msg me. Been there, done that.

My DD is struggling with MT Chinese; just got 38%. We did a test with a Psychologist and she prescribed testing for Dyslexia using Weschler Test. The test did not show any form of Dsylexia and her report did not support exemption.

Now, the problem is that I understand that besides Dyslexia, there could be other Learning Difficulties and other angles to request for exemption.

Would appreciate if anyone in this forum could help with recommending a Pyschologist who has done this exemption and can propose the right kind of test. We spent almost $2000 but end up with a report that is not useful. I am also wondering if all who gets exempted because of Dyslexia because this seem to be the most common reason.

DD is crying everyday and very moody. Please PM if if you can help. We need to help her.

Thank you.

Parent2008

[lakshmi v]

My child’s Actual mother tongue is not taught in Singapore. He is in p5 and is struggling in MT around 35% . We tried all sorts of tuition, enrichment. Soo worried. Want to try for exemption. Can anyone help. Please pm.

[jacsplace]

lakshmi v:

My child's Actual mother tongue is not taught in Singapore. He is in p5 and is struggling in MT around 35% . We tried all sorts of tuition, enrichment. Soo worried. Want to try for exemption. Can anyone help. Please pm.

Hi, did you try for exemption? any update? Thanks.

[sushigal]

I have a special girl with SPD. MOE do not recognised this term. MOE has very limited mind like Dyslexia, ADHD and Austism only. Only 3.


Enough with our Psychologist (outside treatment) report, MOE says is not good enough and we spend dollars, dollars!!!

So we seek the school counsellor help, he said go to those MOE recognised centre like James Cook University. We fixed the appointment and at the end of the day, they do not recognised SPD but their website says they have SPD treatment.

Again I asked the school counsellor so you tell me where else can I go to seek help for my girl? IMH. I went to Polyclinic to ask for referral letter and 1st time see the Psychologist. She diagnosed my girl as ADHD, we told NO.

Once they brand it, it will forever ADHD in her future life with MOE, her career, her insurance will be affected. This was the advise by the private Psychologist.

So we request for OT treatment every 2 weeks for my girl. 2nd time appointment was a Chinese Psychiatrist who is willing to help us write a letter to MOE with the supporting document which is this coming Friday, 30 Aug 2013, my girl has to do IBT test something like Austism Spectrum Disorder test.

What to do, MOE is so limit with the diagnosis.

In order to get her out of MT, we just got to try. The exemption is only 2 years. After that, IMH will have to review again. So is not that easy. Lots of hassle. Unless like I mentioned those 3 then MOE will immediately exempt it.

Whereas, my girl case is not those 3 I mentioned.

Just to add, only Psychiatrist can help not Psychologist. Must be very clear about this.

Hope my sharing helps.

[Turquoise Belt]

jacsplace:

We are Indians but we don't speak, read and write Tamil or any other Indian language. The only language we are fluent in is English.


My children take Tamil as their MTL and are struggling with it. This subject is affecting their ability to cope with the other subjects.

My husband and I would like to exempt them from MTL, particularly as there is no value in learning Tamil, at least in Singapore where everything is in English and Mandarin.

Can anyone advise: what our chances of successfully getting exemptions from MTL? What are the disadvantages of doing so? Will our children be penalised in any way?

I don't think your children should stop learning their mother tongue simply because it hasn't got much economic value. They can still learn other languages too but it should not be at expense of learning Tamil as it is a link to their culture and heritage. I am still upset at my mother who did not bother to teach me and my siblings Tamil though she can read and write the language. I think that is the mistake a lot of Indian parents are making in discouraging or not encouraging the use of their ancestral language among their children

[janet88]

Regarding MT (mother tongue) exemption, you may want to check out the thread under ‘health’, ‘special needs and learning difficulties’. There is a discussion on this.


To get an exemption from MT, your child would need to see the child psychologist. If below 7 years of age, then it will be KK hospital…if 7 and above, you will would be referred to NUH child development unit. Then you would need to have consult the speech therapist and psychologist for further assessment. The waiting period and running about to visit these 2 specialists may take a while.
After getting the speech assessment, it will be submitted to MOE through the school. Before that, you will need to fill in a form too. After submission, you would need to wait for MOE to process the case.