17 November 2000

SPEECH BY RADM (NS) TEO CHEE HEAN, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND SECOND MINISTER FOR DEFENCE AT THE CEREMONY TO COMMEMORATE END OF COMPASS’ FIRST TERM OF OFFICE AND LAUNCH OF "HOME, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS" ON FRI 17 NOV 2000 AT THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION @ 10.30 AM

1. Good morning, members of COMPASS, ladies and gentlemen. Today marks the end of the Council’s first two-year term of office and we would like to thank all of our members for their enthusiastic support and contributions. We also celebrate the launch of the document "Home, School and Community Partnerships" which is the final project for COMPASS in its first term of office. This is the culmination of COMPASS’ visits to schools over these two years, during which many good ideas and practices were gleaned from the discussions and observations made.

2. COMPASS was established in Dec 1998 to advise the Ministry of Education on ways and means to promote and strengthen the collaboration of school, parents and community in education. COMPASS undertakes to develop a common understanding among the child, his parents, his school and the community about the part that each should play in a concerted effort to achieve the Desired Outcomes of Education.

3. COMPASS aims to recapture some of the spirit of community support for schools, which used to come about because schools were mainly set up by the community. Today, with education being seen as the responsibility of the Government, we must try our best to recreate that sense of bonding and mutual sense of responsibility among schools, parents and community. The changing structure of our society and homes resulting in more dual income families has resulted in higher expectations placed on schools by parents. Therefore a need for a national level framework for schools to engage parents and the community is necessary to allow for mutual understanding of the fundamental purpose of education.

4. I am pleased to note that during the two-year term, COMPASS has served its role well. It has acted as a forum where the good practices on collaborative efforts of school, home and community are surfaced. It has consolidated these efforts for sharing and promotion amongst schools. COMPASS’s first effort was the publication of a Teachers’ Day book, entitled "If Not For My Teacher" a book of inspiring and heart-warming stories, poems, quotations and sketches about teachers who have left an indelible mark on their charges. The book was a tribute to teachers who embody the spirit of education – a meeting of hearts as well as minds. The book was presented to all teachers on Teachers Day in August 1999. This book was very well received and was also made available to the public at the major bookstores.

5. The second project was the development of a concise document "Stakeholders in Education". This underlies a common understanding of the type of partnerships that can be undertaken and how the respective roles can be fulfilled. At the heart of the document is the ultimate aim of helping all children achieve the Desired Outcomes of Education.

6. It was launched in April this year and copies were distributed to all schools, community and business organisations. The document has also been translated into Chinese, Malay and Tamil and copies will be given to all parents of prospective Primary 1 pupils at the P1 Orientation this month. Schools have shared that this document has helped them in working out collaborative efforts with various stakeholders such as parents, the SAC/SMC and even Alumni. The statements articulated in the document spell out clearly what each stakeholder needs to do in order to help all our children reach their potential.

7. Today, we are launching our third publication, the document on "Home, School and Community Partnerships." The various models presented in the booklet explain how successful collaborations have evolved, and is intended to promote good practices among all those who have a stake in the education of our young. We hope that teachers, parents and members of the public will be inspired by the models showcased in the document to similarly engage in collaborative efforts with the common goal of helping all our children achieve their potential.

8. The first two-year term of the Council comes to an end today. I would like to thank all Council members and especially our members who will be retiring from the council, Mr Ja’afar bin Sidin, Mr Lai Hock Meng, Dr Ralph Ernest Stanley, Ms Molly Too, Mrs Susan Chan Yoke Kate, Mr Lim Chew Hiong and Mr Mohd Khairunan bin Ali. Your readiness to share your perspective and ideas have helped the Council to achieve its objective of promoting and strengthening parent and community involvement in schools.

9. As much as you have given to the Council, I hope you have gained from it as well. The briefings on current educational policies and practices, as well as the school visits served to provide you with a better insight of the rationale that guides our practice, school programmes and collaborations with key stakeholders. Our over-arching aim is to build a better learning environment for our pupils. I hope that at the same time, you have also gained a better understanding of the challenges faced by our schools in forging links with the community and lend them your support.

10. The Council will begin its second term of office in Jan 2001 with the appointment of another seven new members to join the Council. As we meet in the new year we will leverage on the strengths and achievements of the members of the first council. The injection of new blood serves as a rejuvenation and invigatory step. While in the first term the Council had focused on clarifying the roles of stakeholders and the importance of making linkages among the various stakeholders in the interest of education, the next Council can explore how the achievements of the first term can be taken to a higher level. We can provide opportunities for different stakeholders to communicate their perspectives on various aspects of partnerships. COMPASS can initiate a forum for schools, parents and community/business organisations to share on present initiatives and strategies as well as future ventures. We will also look into ways of giving recognition to deserving schools, which have forged successful partnerships.

11. It has indeed been a fruitful term. I am pleased with what the Council has achieved thus far and we look forward to an equally productive and meaningful second term. The future holds great promise for partnership programmes, involving homes, schools and the community. The challenge is to create more opportunities for collaborations to take place, as the impact on our pupils and our future is profound. Thank you once again, ladies and gentlemen.