SPEECH BY RADM TEO CHEE HEAN, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION & SECOND MINISTER FOR DEFENCE & MP FOR PASIR RIS GRC AT THE EDUSAVE MERIT BURSARY / EDUSAVE SCHOLARSHIP / CDC-CCC POLYTECHNIC AND UNIVERSITY AWARD PRESENTATION CEREMONY ON SUN 27 DEC 98 AT LOYANG SEC SCHOOL @ 9 AM

Mr William Tan, Principal of Loyang Secondary School,

Mr Andrew Chew, Principal of Greenview Secodary,

Mrs Rammie Kuan, Principal of White Sands Primary,

Miss Lim Boon Cheng, Principal of Pasir Ris Primary,

Chairmen and Members of the School Advisory Committees,

Mr Alan Tai, Chairman of Pasir Ris Loyang Citizens’ Consultative Committee,Mdm Ivy Tan, Chairperson of Pasir Ris Loyang Welfare & Bursary Committee and Chairperson of Pasir Ris Loyang EMB Award Presentation Committee,

Award recipients, parents, community leaders, ladies and gentlemen,

a very good morning.

2 This has been a difficult year for the region. Singapore has been affected by the regional economic crisis. But Singaporeans can rest assured that education remains a priority with our government. Expenditure on education for the financial year 1998 is a hefty $5.73 billion, or 3.2% of the GDP. We are building new schools, and rebuilding, renovating and improving old ones. We are also recruiting more teachers. We are increasing the number of computers in all our schools, developing software, and training all teachers to use them to improve teaching and learning in our schools. We are steadily improving the quality of and access to post-secondary further education. We have built the fourth polytechnic, expanded enrolment at the Institute of Technical Education, and started to establish a third university.

3 Every child in Singapore has the opportunity to go as far as he can in education in Singapore. No child will be denied an education in Singapore because he is unable to afford the fees. Our school fees have been kept low and affordable. At the school level and at the community level, there are many financial assistance schemes for deserving students. These schemes are designed not just to help students financially, but more importantly, to encourage them to do their best.

4 The Edusave Endowment Fund which was set up by the government in 1993 is one of the schemes that provides funding to schools and students and encourages them to improve their performance and level-up.

5 Grants from the Edusave fund are given every year to every school and the ITE for these institutions to carry out extra educational activities for the benefit of their students. Apart from grants to institutions, every eligible student between the age of 6 and 16 also receives a contribution to his individual Edusave account. For 1999, this contribution will be $160, the same as for 1998.

6 Parents can use this individual Edusave account to pay for various extra educational activities conducted by the school. Parents can also use this account to pay their child’s miscellaneous fees in school. These individual Edusave grants will therefore help parents with the educational expenses of their children during these difficult economic times.

7 In addition to the grants to schools and contributions to every eligible student’s individual account, the Edusave Endowment Fund gives out awards to students for good academic performance or improved academic performance in school.

8 Today’s award presentation ceremony affirms our commitment to encourage students to do their best in their studies. Three types of Awards will be given out: first, the Edusave Scholarship; second, the Edusave Merit Bursary; and third, the CDC/CCC-Tertiary Awards.

9 The Edusave scholarships for primary and secondary students are given in recognition of good academic results. This year, 24,754 students throughout Singapore will receive the Edusave Scholarship, out of which 163 are from Pasir Ris Loyang Division.

10 The Edusave Merit Bursary for primary, secondary and ITE students gives recognition to pupils who do well in their studies and who are from financially less well-off homes. The award is to motivate these pupils further in their academic pursuits. A total of 48,665 students will receive the Edusave Merit Bursary this year, of whom 613 are from Pasir Ris Loyang Division.

11 The third award to be given out today is the CDC/CCC-Tertiary Award. I commend grassroots organisations for supporting the education of our youth. This year, 7,503 CDC/CCC-Tertiary Awards will be given to students at ITE, polytechnics, and the universities.

12 The Good Progress Award recognises students who have made significant improvement in their academic performance, and who have not received the Edusave Scholarship or Merit Bursary. For 1998, a total of 39,245 students will receive Good Progress Award from their schools. In Pasir Ris Loyang, 388 students are recipients of this Award.

13 In summary, this year will see more than 120 thousand students across all levels benefit from these four kinds of awards. These are not the final figures as there are still applications coming in.

14 Education aims to develop every child into a well-rounded and responsible citizen with a healthy mind and body, committed to contributing to the well-being of society. Schools need the support of the community and the home to give the best possible education to every child. I am very glad that this morning we have principals and teachers, Chairmen and members of School Advisory Committees, parents, and community leaders, all here together to give encouragement and support to our students. I hope that schools will continue to enjoy such support from the home and the community.

15 To this morning’s award recipients and to their proud parents, congratulations and well done. Thank you.