SPEECH BY MR MOHAMAD MAIDIN PACKER MOHD, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY (EDUCATION) AND MP FOR MARINE PARADE GRC AT THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROGRAMME AT BLK 9 EUNOS CRESCENT ON SUNDAY, 21 MAY 2000 AT 10.00AM

2. The Community Involvement Programme (CIP) was launched by MOE in 1997 to offer opportunities for students to be involved in forging interactions and a sense of identity with the community and society. This programme aims to build social cohesion and to instil civic responsibility in our students. It has been made compulsory for all to ensure that every student will be given an opportunity to be involved in community work. This is in the hope that this will spur our students on to develop a life-long habit of community involvement.

3. This programme requires students from primary and secondary schools, junior colleges and centralised institutes to participate in community work for at least six hours per school year. The objective of the programme is to cultivate in students instincts to serve the community, society and their nation. These opportunities should not be misconstrued as charity work by the students or as "free" labour. Rather, the work done in the programme should be viewed as a labour of love and a means through which students can, through their own efforts contribute to the betterment of society.

4. There are many ways in which schools can organise their CIP activities. Eunos Primary School has selected a precinct adoption scheme. Under this scheme, the school adopts certain blocks in the neighbouring housing estate and they play a supportive role in ensuring the cleanliness and maintenance of its neighbourhood housing estate.

5. I understand that the Marine Parade Town Council is launching a Green Campaign to encourage the students of the school to participate in a cleanliness competition involving the entire precinct of Eunos Crescent from Block 1 to Block 25 as well.

6. Involvement in the upkeep of your neighbourhood housing estate gives you the opportunity to foster a greater sense of belonging and responsibility towards your living environment. Whether you are a resident, parent, student or a grassroots leader, everyone has an important part to play in making our living environment a better place to live in. Students can act as young beacons to help increase the awareness and social consciousness of their parents and neighbours about the living environment.

7. The efforts of the principal of Eunos Primary School and his staff in undertaking this programme together with the members of the Kampong Ubi Eunos Crescent Residents' Committee are to be commended.

8. Schools and the community, working hand-in-hand in this meaningful endeavour is a step in the right direction, as the various quarters of the community take ownership of the education process. This morning, I am very encouraged by the turnout and your support for this programme. I believe if we are going to build a nation that is environmentally conscious, you and the younger generation, by your side will achieve this goal.

9. In closing, I would like to impress upon all of you who are present that each one of us has our part to play. Through increased awareness, responsibility and commitment, we can all contribute to the changes necessary to make our estate a cleaner and healthier environment to live in.