OPENING ADDRESS BY PRIME MINISTER GOH CHOK TONG AT THE APEC EDUCATION MINISTERS' MEETING ON THURSDAY, 6 APRIL 2000 AT 9.00 AM AT THE STAMFORD BALLROOM, WESTIN STAMFORD

EDUCATION - MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF GLOBALISATION

3      In the field of science and knowledge, the application of biology will be to the 21st century what physics was to the 20th. Scientists have now within their grasp the ability to prolong productive life by transplanting organs and altering our genes. They have cloned sheep and pigs. They can develop the ability to clone humans, if ethical and religious objections do not stand in the way. Environment and human rights issues will be replaced by this new kind of ethical questions in this century.

4      Meanwhile, much of the world is being reshaped by the spread of trade and the flow of ideas. The forces of globalisation will diminish the meaning of national boundaries and challenge the powers of the nation-state to govern their nationals in traditional ways.

5      What will all these mean for our respective societies? Let me highlight three key implications. First, individual communities will increasingly be subject to ideas and influences from beyond their boundaries. This development towards a borderless world is, in itself, neither a force for good nor an evil. It has the potential to bring immense benefits or disrupt existing political, economic and social orders. The challenge is to embrace good ideas and practices which strengthen each of our societies, and to reject those which will have negative effects. But when it comes to cultural values, customs and political practices, what constitutes good ideas is itself a contentious issue.

6      Second, skills, creativity and entrepreneurship will command a premium. With the advent of the knowledge-based economy, economic strength does not depend on natural resources, land size or location. It depends on a people's capacity to create wealth through new applications of knowledge, new ideas and new knowledge. A people that can learn faster and innovate will stay ahead. Companies and economies will stay competitive only if they can exploit capabilities which others find difficult to imitate. These capabilities are found in the knowledge, skills and work ethics of our people. Creativity, drive and the desire and ability to keep learning are now the prized assets.

7      Third, globalisation will challenge the powers of government. This is already becoming evident. Ideas which work in developed democracies are being transplanted to traditional societies where prevailing conditions may not be ready to absorb them. The concept of civil society is one such example. Civic groups and NGOs will want to play a bigger role in governance. People from developing economies are having more access to information of all forms. They are more exposed to developments elsewhere, and are influenced by their ideas. They will want to influence policies in their own countries, or at least have the space to criticise those which they do not like.

8      Our private sector will also want to play a bigger role in governance. Capital flows have never been freer and markets more accessible. Companies are going regional and international. Foreign direct investments are rising. Businesses have stakes in many economies. The investment climate of countries will affect the livelihood of workers and the profit margins of shareholders. The business community will, therefore, have an active interest in the way a government carries out its policies.

10     Education can no longer be built upon purely domestic foundations. The method of learning today is not the same as in the past. By using computers, we can make learning fun. Lessons can also be customised according to pupils' ability and interest. Thanks to the Internet, pupils will have easy access to a vast pool of valuable learning resources the world over. Instead of knowledge dispensing, our teachers will have to give greater emphasis to the teaching of skills to extract, filter and analyse information.

11     But computers and the Internet will not replace teachers. We will always need teachers to guide pupils through their journey of learning and discovery. More importantly, we also need them to mould pupils with the right attitudes, imbue the right values, shape the right outlook and develop the right instincts in our young. The skills of teachers will change, but their basic role of giving students this moral compass must remain intact.

12     This is especially important in a world of rapid change. Today, our young must reach out to the world, understand the complexities and the potential of globalisation, and live and compete in the global village. Education must arm them with the tools to succeed in this new world. This new world will comprise the New Economy and the Old Economy. Computers and IT literacy are therefore as important as the traditional alphabets, books and logic learning.

13      Traditionally, education builds self-identity. It bestows our young with their culture and heritage. It enables them to inherit the richness of our civilisation and society. In the new world, this role of education continues but the mode of conveying the customs, knowledge and values will be different. To put it in another way, education must be relevant to the needs of society. It is essential that our planners balance the past, the present and the future in a way which will not add undue pressure to the daily life of our people.

16     I am confident that you will have fruitful discussions. If at times your discussions become heated, let us see this as a necessary process in the exchange of ideas. As Education Ministers, you are our guardians of the torch of learning. The future of our respective societies is in your hands.

Thank you.