My child has been abroad for some time. Is he required to study a Mother Tongue Language (MTL)?
We encourage your child to try learning an official MTL (Chinese Language, Malay Language or Tamil Language) in school with support and guidance from our teachers. If they have little prior experience, they could learn it at Foundation level in primary school, or G1 level in secondary school.
If your child has experience learning a Non-Tamil Indian Language (NTIL), an Asian Language or Foreign Language (AsL/FL) instead of an official MTL, you may approach your child’s school to submit an application to offer NTIL or an approved AsL/FL in lieu of MTL.
If your child had no opportunity to learn any of the above languages, you may consider applying for MTL exemption through your child’s school.
Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis based on the overseas school progress reports and other documents provided, and will be evaluated holistically in the best educational interest of your child. The school will inform you of the application outcome.
This information is sourced from MOE
Related questions
My child has been abroad for some time and is applying for admission to a local university. Will he/she be required to fulfil the Mother Tongue Language (MTL) requirement?
My child has been abroad for some years and has just rejoined primary school mid-stream. He has been exempted from studying Mother Tongue Language (MTL). Can he study the MTL and opt not to take the MTL examination at the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE)?
Can my child with special educational needs (SEN) be exempted from taking a Mother Tongue Language (MTL)?
Can my child learn a Mother Tongue Language (MTL) that is not our own in MOE Kindergarten?
