Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew officially opening the Singapore Centre for Chinese Language (SCCL), which will train Chinese-language teachers and conduct research on how best to teach Chinese as a second language. The centre, set up by the Education Ministry in February, is in Ghim Moh Road.

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Also at the opening last night were (from left) Ms Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Education; Education Minister Ng Eng Hen; Mr Robin Hu, Singapore Press Holdings' senior executive vice-president (Chinese Newspapers and Newspaper Services Divisions) as well as chairman of SCCL's board of directors; and SCCL executive director Chin Chee Kuen.

The centre yesterday signed agreements with four partner institutions to conduct joint research and offer degree and training programmes for teachers. Its collaborating partners are the Media Development Authority, SIM University, the University of Hong Kong and NTUC's Seed Institute.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.