English Proficiency Tests Proposed for New Immigrants in Singapore: Debates and Public Opinions Explored

Opposition leader and Workers’ Party Secretary-General Pritam Singh proposed on February 27th in Parliament that English proficiency tests be made one of the selection criteria for new immigrants to Singapore, sparking widespread attention and heated discussion. Lianhe Zaobao interviewed Dr. Mathew Mathews, head of the Social Research Room at the Institute of Policy Studies at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Lianhe Zaobao’s guest commentator Yan Mengda, and conducted street interviews with Singaporeans, permanent residents, foreign workers with work visas, and foreigners with long-term visit passes to hear their views on the proposal.