Abstract:The Singapore Ministry of Education is considering whether or not hand-held calculator use should be allowed in elementary-school mathematics classrooms in Singapore. Once the decision is made known to the public, calculator use will become the subject of controversy among educators and parents in Singapore. The purpose of this article is to review what research says about the effects of calculator use in the learning of mathematics in primary schools. The article will also discuss how calculators can be used effectively as a teaching and learning tool to enhance the development of number sense, promote mathematical thinking, and engage pupils in problem solving.