Tamil Language Education in Singapore Marks 75 Years

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong addressed the Singapore Tamil Teachers' Union's 75th anniversary, emphasizing that mother tongue languages connect citizens to their cultural roots and heritage. He acknowledged the particular challenges Tamil students face, noting fewer opportunities to practice the language outside classrooms compared to other mother tongues.

The union, founded in 1951 with fewer than 100 members, now represents about 630 Tamil educators across Singapore's educational institutions. PM Wong highlighted collaborative efforts including the *Tamizhil Yosi Tamizhil Vaasi* (Think In Tamil, Read In Tamil) campaign, which encourages students to view Tamil as a living language beyond examinations.

At the celebrations, the union pledged $10,000 to the Singapore Indian Education Trust and launched a revamped website serving as a global resource for educators. A historical book, *The Sanctuary Of Power*, was also unveiled, documenting Tamil education's evolution from 1951 to 2025. Young educators like 22-year-old Shruthika Kumar exemplify the next generation's commitment to making Tamil accessible through innovative teaching methods, including artificial intelligence integration.