06 July 2021
In Census 2020, it was found that more Singapore residents are securing higher academic qualifications, especially university degrees. In addition, more people can read and write in multiple languages, and bigger numbers are speaking English at home.
Also noteworthy was that the proportion of university graduates also rose across the board last year for all races.
As for language, almost half of residents speak English most often at home, from 23 per cent in 2000.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Associate Professor Tan Ying-Ying is not surprised, given society’s inclination towards a “English-dominant” mode of bilingualism. NTU Emeritus Professor Eddie Kuo says the prevalence of English should facilitate more communication between people of different ethnicities. Singapore University of Technology and Design’s Dr Nazry Bahrawi agrees, but adds: “It would be a shame to lose linguistic mastery of your mother tongue.”