It is in talks with schools in Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia to make contest regional
By Yen Feng
The Straits Times
(c) 2006 Singapore Press Holdings Limited
The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) of Singapore is stepping up efforts to promote good English public speakers by opening its annual Plain English Speaking Award contest to more participants - including pre-schoolers.
This year's contest, held between June and this month, included an open category featuring students from polytechnics, madrasahs and private schools.
Next year's contest will include university students and a junior category, with participants from Kindergarten 2 to Primary 3.
'Basically,' said Mr Edward Ong, the contest chairman for the past two years, 'we want to involve the whole of Singapore.'
Talks are also under way to make the competition regional, with schools in Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia expressing 'keen interest', said Mr Ong.
At the prize-giving ceremony last night, the YMCA honoured 13 speakers for their outstanding performances in delivering prepared and impromptu speeches.
Joshua Chan, a 'veteran' public speaker at the ripe old age of 12, won the competition's primary category.
The St Hilda's Primary 6 pupil, a regular emcee at his school's functions, delivered a speech entitled Go Global, Speak Local.
He said the competition was a 'good opportunity' to improve his skills as a public speaker.
Student Lydia Adlina, who finished third in the open category, said: 'As part of the first batch of polytechnic students to take part, I definitely feel I've raised the bar.
'It feels good to help put Singapore Polytechnic in the top three,' added the second-year media and communications student.
Since the first contest in 1986, the number of contestants has grown from 29 to 159 this year.
The awards were presented by Minister of State for Education Lui Tuck Yew.
