MOE Expands Mother Tongue Programmes: 3 Changes From 2027
From 2027, more secondary school and JC students can take language programmes that their own school may not offer.
MOE announced three changes at the Mother Tongue Languages Symposium on August 1.
1. Chinese Language Elective Programme expands to ASRJC
Anderson Serangoon Junior College will become the sixth school offering CLEP-JC. This will add around 40 places a year in the medium to longer term.
2. Tamil Language Elective Programme expands to UPTLC
The Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre will offer TLEP to both secondary and JC students. Students can take it there even if their own school doesn’t run the programme.
3. Malay (Special Programme) expands to NJC
National Junior College will become the fifth centre offering M(SP), adding another 80 to 90 places a year. The four-year programme is for students whose Mother Tongue Language isn’t Malay and who want to study it as a third language.
Know what you’re signing up for
LEP is for students who want to go deeper into language, literature and culture. At JC, you must take the related H2 Language and Literature subject, alongside activities such as camps, talks and overseas immersion.
This isn’t the same as Higher Mother Tongue, which focuses on advanced language proficiency. M(SP) is different too: it runs from Secondary 1 to 4 as a third-language subject.
To qualify for M(SP), you need a PSLE Score of 24 or better and must not have taken Malay or Higher Malay at PSLE.
Don’t apply just for the bonus points
Students selected for CLEP-JC or TLEP-JC can receive 2 additional JAE bonus points. But you must stay in the programme and sit for the relevant A-Level subject, even if you didn’t need the points for posting.
If you leave, you may be asked to leave the JC too. So if the bonus points are your main reason for applying, don’t.
Choose the whole school, not one programme. Compare every school in our JC cut-off point ranking before deciding where LEP fits among your choices.
Before you apply
Ask yourself:
- Do I actually enjoy reading and studying literature in this language?
- Can I fit the subject, activities and travel into my workload?
- Would I still choose this JC without the bonus points?
Choose it for the language, not as a shortcut into JC.
