In Singapore, you can learn Italian from nursery school onwards

The German European School Singapore (GESS) has launched the Italian Mother Tongue Programme, attended by the Italian Ambassador, Dante Brandi. Aimed at students whose mother tongue is Italian, the new programme forms part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum and offers Italian-speaking families an opportunity to support their children’s linguistic development.

The programme will begin in January 2027 in nursery schools and will be extended to primary and secondary schools from August of the same year. Pupils will thus be able to consolidate their language skills as part of the school timetable, following an educational pathway that accompanies the various stages of their education. The introduction of Italian even at pre-school level is particularly significant in a context such as Singapore, where its teaching has traditionally been concentrated mainly at university level. The initiative responds to the interest of families who wish to pass on their language to their children and keep alive their connection with Italia’s cultural heritage.

The launch comes just a few days after the conclusion of the 26th Week of the Italian Language in the World, which took place under the theme ‘A brilliant language: conceiving, designing and creating with Italian’. Organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the event highlighted the role of Italian as a language of culture, creativity and innovation. Gess’s new initiative perfectly embodies this message, bringing Italian into the classroom, starting with the youngest pupils.