MANIVASAGAM
Education in Singapore (Part 3: Malay/Tamil),
Accession Number 002649
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 6
Total Reels
- Ghalpanah Thangaraju
Interviewer
- 02:35:22
Total Running Time
- Tamil
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 6
Metadata
- 16 May 2002
Recording Date
- 00:27:12
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Born in rubber estate in Johore, 1933. Family background. Description of estate life. Facilities in rubber estate. Impact of Japanese Occupation on his estate. Started school at age 4 in estate kindergarten. Tamil school where all subjects taught in Tamil. Studied in estate school until 1941 when Japanese attacked. During Japanese Occupation, continued school for short while. Reasons why he did not join English school. Description of estate school. Subjects he learnt. Management at estate made it compulsory for children to attend school.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 6
Metadata
- 16 May 2002
Recording Date
- 00:21:00
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Experiences during Japanese Occupation. Worked on Japanese ship that extracted bauxite until end of war. In exchange, given rice from Japanese. After surrender, returned to estate; work as rubber tapper, 1946. Reasons why he worked. Studied in Tamil school in Muar, 1948. Started in Standard 6; completed Standard 7. Also simultaneously studied English at St. Andrew's English School for a year. Able to do so because Standard 7 classes in Tamil school held only weekly. Became teacher in 1950 at estate school in Layang Layang. Attended teacher-training once a week in Johore simultaneously. His experience as trainee teacher.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 6
Metadata
- 16 May 2002
Recording Date
- 00:28:10
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Came to Singapore, 1958. Responded to advertisement for second language Tamil teachers. Differences in pay. First post at Kampong Bahru Primary. Easier to teach Tamil as second language. Attended night classes at Stamford College; obtained Senior Cambridge.
Under People's Action Party (PAP), teachers posted to school nearest home. Posted to Newton Boys' Primary. Tamil schools in Singapore. Subsequent closure. Compared Tamil teaching in Malaysia and Singapore. Pay scale differences concerning Senior Cambridge qualifications. Tamil Teachers Union sought equal pay. Taught at Alexandra Estate Primary, Tanglin Secondary, Baharuddin Vocational, and Toh Tuck. Experiences in them. Retired from Toh Tuck, 1987.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 6
Metadata
- 16 May 2002
Recording Date
- 00:29:10
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
What he did during Japanese Occupation. Description of Japanese rule. Became teacher so his brothers and sisters could also go to school. Description of his teacher-training. Where and how he learnt English. Singapore schools he taught in. Differences in teaching in primary and secondary schools. Preferred to teach secondary level. Existence of designated Tamil Centre schools where Tamil students from schools in certain area would congregate.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 6
Metadata
- 16 May 2002
Recording Date
- 00:26:10
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Teaching methods. Tamil textbooks mainly from Malaya. After 1971, he and some teachers wrote own books; accepted by Ministry of Education (MOE). Curriculum Development Institute of Singapore (CDIS) formed in 1980s. How they produced textbook. Other activities involved in as teacher. History of Tamil Teachers Union. Its efforts to get equal pay for all Tamil teachers. His role in Union. Dealings with MOE. Incident where Umar Pulavar Tamil High School graduates had teacher-training course conducted and examined in English. Matter resolved. Also raised funds for Union building. Union fees a dollar a month.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 6
Metadata
- 16 May 2002
Recording Date
- 00:23:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Considers Tamil Teachers' Union still relevant association today. Changes in Tamil teaching today. Usefulness of Tamil language in Singapore society. Future of Tamil in Singapore. His successes and failures. His relationship with principals of schools he taught in. Description of Teachers' Training College back then. Opinion of Tamil teachers coming to Singapore to teach. His opinion on whether Speak Tamil campaign is necessary.
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