SSEF - Primary Levels
Singapore Sikh Education Foundation
Primary Levels
The Singapore Sikh Education Foundation (SSEF) provides a structured and engaging Punjabi language curriculum for primary school students, guiding them from Primary 1 to Primary 6 with a strong foundation in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
The programme is designed to nurture linguistic proficiency, cultural appreciation, and confidence in communication, ensuring that students develop a deep connection to their heritage and identity while excelling in their language learning journey.
Primary Level Punjabi Language Curriculum at SSEF
SSEF’s Primary Punjabi Programme aligns with the Board for the Teaching and Testing of South Asian Languages (BTTSAL) and the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) Mother Tongue Language (MTL) framework, offering a holistic and progressive approach to Punjabi language education.
SSEF’s primary-level curriculum is progressive and age-appropriate, ensuring that students build their Punjabi language skills in stages. The focus areas include:
1. Lower Primary (Primary 1 & 2): Building Strong Foundations
At the Primary 1 and 2 levels, SSEF focuses on developing a strong foundation in Punjabi through a competency-based approach, in line with the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) guidelines. There are no formal examinations at this stage. Instead, students are assessed using MOE’s four-level competency ratings, which emphasise progress and skill development rather than numerical grades.
The curriculum at this stage is designed to make language learning enjoyable, interactive, and meaningful, ensuring that students build confidence in using Punjabi in everyday situations.
Key Learning Areas:
Listening and Speaking: Encouraging students to understand and respond to simple spoken Punjabi through conversations, songs, and storytelling.
Basic Literacy Skills: Recognising Punjabi Gurmukhi script (Akhar) and learning to read and write simple words.
Vocabulary Development: Introducing commonly used words and expressions to help students communicate basic ideas.
Sentence Formation: Teaching students to form simple sentences to express thoughts and ideas.
Interactive Learning Activities: Using rhymes, games, and role-playing to make language learning fun and engaging.
Cultural Awareness: Introducing students to Punjabi traditions, celebrations, and folktales to strengthen their connection to the language.
Competency-Based Progression:
Instead of formal exams, students’ learning is continuously assessed through teacher observations, classroom activities, and portfolio-based learning. MOE’s four competency ratings provide a structured way to track progress:
Emerging – Beginning to grasp basic concepts with guidance.
Developing – Showing steady progress and increasing independence.
Competent – Able to apply learning confidently in familiar situations.
Accomplished – Demonstrates a high level of proficiency and understanding.
This low-pressure and supportive approach ensures that young learners develop a natural love for the Punjabi language, setting the stage for progressive learning in later years while making language acquisition a positive and engaging experience.
2. Middle Primary (Primary 3 & 4): Strengthening Language Skills
At the Primary 3 and 4 levels, SSEF focuses on developing greater fluency and confidence in Punjabi through structured learning. These years mark a transition from foundational learning to more structured literacy development, where students begin to apply their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills more independently.
To ensure progressive learning and assessment, SSEF follows BTTSAL’s assessment framework, which takes reference from MOE’s guidelines for Mother Tongue Languages (MTL). This framework includes Weighted Assessments (WAs) in lieu of mid-year examinations and a Year-End Assessment (YEA) to evaluate cumulative learning.
Key Learning Areas:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding longer texts, answering open-ended questions, and summarising key points.
Writing Skills: Constructing coherent sentences and short paragraphs with correct grammar and vocabulary.
Oral Communication: Engaging in structured conversations, picture discussions, and storytelling activities.
Listening Comprehension: Responding to spoken Punjabi passages with increasing accuracy.
Assessment Structure (Aligned with MOE and BTTSAL Guidelines)
Weighted Assessments (WAs) – Conducted periodically to track students’ progress and provide formative feedback.
Year-End Assessment (YEA) – A structured assessment evaluating reading, writing, listening, and oral proficiency.
The Weighted Assessments serve as checkpoints throughout the year, helping teachers identify areas for improvement while reducing the pressure of a single exam. The Year-End Assessment provides a comprehensive review of the year’s learning, ensuring students are prepared for upper primary levels.
By the end of Primary 4, students are expected to:
- Read and comprehend short passages confidently.
- Write structured sentences and simple paragraphs.
- Express ideas clearly in spoken Punjabi.
- Demonstrate a stronger grasp of grammar and vocabulary.
By aligning with MOE’s assessment approach, BTTSAL ensures that Punjabi language assessment remains consistent with national standards, supporting students in building a strong foundation for continued learning in upper primary and beyond.
3. Upper Primary (Primary 5 & 6): Mastery and Application
At the Primary 5 and 6 levels, SSEF focuses on refining students’ Punjabi language skills and preparing them for secondary school progression. This stage builds upon the foundations laid in earlier years, equipping students with the ability to express themselves confidently, comprehend complex texts, and apply their language skills effectively.
SSEF follows the Board for the Teaching and Testing of South Asian Languages (BTTSAL) assessment framework, which is aligned with MOE’s guidelines for Mother Tongue Languages (MTL). Weighted Assessments (WAs) continue to track progress throughout Primary 5 and 6, culminating in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) at the end of Primary 6.
Key Learning Areas
Listening Comprehension:
- Understanding spoken Punjabi passages.
- Identifying key details and implied meanings in audio-based assessments.
Reading Comprehension:
- Understanding longer and more complex passages.
- Answering inferential and opinion-based questions.
- Summarising key points clearly and concisely.
Writing and Composition:
- Writing structured essays in descriptive and narrative formats.
- Applying correct grammar, punctuation, and sentence construction.
- Expressing opinions effectively in structured responses.
Oral Communication:
- Engaging in structured conversations, picture discussions, and situational dialogues.
- Speaking with clarity and confidence.
- Expressing thoughts using a range of vocabulary and sentence structures.
Primary Level Punjabi Language Curriculum at SSEF
Assessment Structure (Aligned with MOE and BTTSAL Guidelines)
Primary 5:
- Weighted Assessments (WAs) are conducted throughout the year to track students’ progress.
- Year-End Assessment (YEA) evaluates students’ proficiency across reading, writing, oral, and listening skills.
Primary 6:
- Students sit for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) in Punjabi.
- The PSLE determines students’ placement in secondary school Posting Groups.
PSLE Punjabi Exam Components:
Paper 1: Composition writing (essay-based).
Paper 2: Language application – comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary.
Paper 3: Listening comprehension (audio-based assessment).
Paper 4: Oral examination (reading aloud & picture discussion).
For Foundation Punjabi students, the PSLE assessment is simplified, with a focus on core language skills. Foundation grades are mapped to Standard scores to ensure fair secondary school placement.
Transition to Secondary School
With the removal of streaming, students will be placed into Posting Groups in secondary school based on their overall PSLE performance. Punjabi language learning will continue at a level that best matches their ability.
- Students taking Standard Punjabi will continue learning Punjabi at an appropriate level in secondary school.
- Students taking Foundation Punjabi will have options to progress at a suitable pace in their secondary studies.
Full Subject-Based Banding (Full SBB) will also provide students with greater flexibility to learn Punjabi at a level suited to their strengths.
Subject Based Banding
Punjabi is offered at two levels in Primary 5 and 6, ensuring that students learn at a pace suited to their abilities and needs.
Standard Punjabi:
- Designed for students who can manage the full curriculum.
- Covers advanced reading comprehension, structured writing, and oral communication.
- Prepares students to continue learning Punjabi in secondary school Posting Groups.
Foundation Punjabi:
- A modified curriculum for students who need additional support.
- Focuses on essential literacy skills, including basic comprehension, sentence formation, and oral communication.
- Prepares students for continued learning at a suitable pace in secondary school.
The decision to take Standard or Foundation Punjabi is made at Primary 5, based on a student’s progress and proficiency.
SSEF’s Commitment to Student Success
SSEF is committed to providing a structured, engaging, and culturally enriching Punjabi language education for all students, from Kindergarten to Primary and beyond. By aligning with MOE’s Mother Tongue Language (MTL) framework and BTTSAL’s assessment guidelines, SSEF ensures that students develop strong language skills, cultural appreciation, and confidence in communication at every stage of their learning journey.
Through progressive assessments, interactive teaching methods, digital learning resources, and a focus on real-world language application, SSEF nurtures students into proficient Punjabi language users who can carry their skills into secondary school and beyond. The foundation remains dedicated to supporting every learner, regardless of their starting point, to achieve their full potential in Punjabi language learning.