SPEECH BY MR PETER CHEN, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR
EDUCATION AT THE LAUNCH OF THE NGEEANN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
CLUBHOUSE PROJECT ON SATURDAY 20 MAY 2000 AT 4.30 PM
AT THE ATRIUM, BLK 1, NGEEANN POLYTECHNIC

Mr Chia Mia Chiang, Principal,

Staff and Graduates of NgeeAnn Polytechnic

We all have our own treasure of memories from our student days, especially the friendships forged and the shared learning experiences. Even the best of memories will fade over time, except when institutionalised through a body like the NgeeAnn Alumni. It is therefore timely for NgeeAnn Alumni to build a clubhouse where the Alumni can meet to reminisce about their student days and to renew acquaintances and to network.

NgeeAnn Polytechnic has a long and proud history. It was born of the vision of the Teochew community to start a tertiary educational institution. Led by Mr Lien Ying Chow, the Ngee Ann Kongsi established Ngee Ann College at the Teochew Building at Tank Road. This was in 1963. By 1965, construction work had begun at this Clementi site to cater to an expanding student population. In 1968, Ngee Ann College changed its name to Ngee Ann Technical College. Fourteen years later, in 1982, Ngee Ann Technical College became known as NgeeAnn Polytechnic. Over the years, Ngee Ann Polytechnic has expanded steadily, in terms of the range of courses offered, the student enrolment and physical facilities. By now, more than 60,000 students have graduated from the polytechnic.

NgeeAnn Polytechnic had together with all in Singapore experienced the tumultuous years of nation-building and ridden through the ups and downs of the nation's economy. The staff and students had persevered and kept the flag of the Polytechnic flying high. There is every reason for NgeeAnn graduates to be proud of their alma mater's rich history, and make every effort to stay in touch with the Polytechnic and fellow Alumni. With us here today are graduates of NgeeAnn from as early as the 1960s. This makes the launch of the Alumni clubhouse project today an especially momentous occasion.

Today, the NgeeAnn Alumni can be found in every sector of the Singapore economy. Their contributions are not limited to our own shores, for many have ventured overseas and succeeded as well. There is today a sizeable pool of illustrious NgeeAnn Alumni. One example that comes readily to mind is Mr Sim Wong Hoo, inventor of the Sound Blaster. Mr Sim graduated from the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department in 1975; he went on to take on the rest of the world and triumphed.

The reputation of an educational institution does not rest on the academic quality of its programmes alone. It is also measured by the performance of its graduates. NgeeAnn graduates have shown that they can face up to the challenges of the world, and I have no doubt that they will continue to uphold the good image and reputation of NgeeAnn Polytechnic. However, we need to remind ourselves that the world is changing. Globalisation, the move from the old to the new, knowledge-based economy, and the IT revolution have combined to make it necessary for all of us to learn and re-learn, pick up new skills and master the latest technologies. Unless we do so, we run the risk of economic obsolescence. I would therefore urge you to make continuing education and lifelong learning part-and-parcel of your life.

Although the NgeeAnn Alumni Association was only formed in 1995, i.e., barely 5 years old, it has taken on the ambitious project of building a clubhouse. The NgeeAnn Alumni Association Clubhouse will serve as a meeting place for graduates, their families and friends. It will be a symbol of the unique bond each graduate has with its alma mater, and serve as a platform to strengthen ties between the graduates and NgeeAnn Polytechnic. Indeed, what better way is there to build on such ties than to site the Alumni clubhouse on the polytechnic campus where it all began.

I congratulate the NgeeAnn Alumni Association for embarking on the Clubhouse project, and wish you every success. The Clubhouse will no doubt succeed in bringing many NgeeAnn Alumni together and helping them to renew friendship and deepen the bond between them. On this note, it gives me great pleasure to launch the NgeeAnn Alumni Association Clubhouse Project.

Thank you.