Why Singapore Have To Be Bilingual? Isn't It Stupid?

I have a thought: Is anybody looking into increasing the number of hours available for teaching and learning of second languages such as Mandarin, Tamil and Malay? For those who take about 3 hours of classes a week to learn either one of them, you're stupid and why? I sorta think it is grossly inadequate to achieve proficiency if you were to ask me (and by proficiency, I mean being able to read and write in the language like a native speaker at a similar level by the time you've finish secondary or post-secondary education).

Besides, I'm not sure if "the ability to speak Asian languages keeps us relevant in the region". Helpful for sure, but relevant?? Just look at the number of people desperately trying to learn/master English these days! So much for being bilingual, eh?

Okay. No doubt that being bilingual definitely helps - it will open doors to more opportunities yadda yadda yadda. But don't you think it's just ridiculous? Ridiculous in the sense that, we ought to know "English and Mandarin", "English and Tamil" or whatever... I still find it unfair to the rest of the people who sorta have a low IQ level, someone that have a problem in remembering languages and etc. What does that meant? Does it mean they do not have any opportunity?

Anyway, did you realised that bigotry in Singapore is sooo rampant? Some people are that myopic enough to equate "bilingual" to "knowing Mandarin and English". How many stories have I heard of people who applied for a job saying, "must be bilingual", only for them to clarify they meant "must know Mandarin and English"?
What the hell.

Labels: Bitching, Singapore Being Bilingual, Singapore News, Views