29 July 2000

SPEECH BY DR ALINE WONG, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR EDUCATION,
AT THE 18^TH ANNIVERSARY CUM EXTENSION OPENING OF MANJUSRI SECONDARY SCHOOL ON SATURDAY 29 JULY 2000 AT 9.00 AM, AT 149 SIMS DRIVE

Venerable Sek Long Gen, President of Singapore Buddhist Federation and Supervisor of Manjusri Secondary School Management Committee,

I am pleased to be here to celebrate with you the school's 18th anniversary and the opening of its extension building. Although Manjusri Secondary School is a relatively young school, it has established itself with its own traditions based on time-honoured values dedicated to the moral as well as cognitive development of its pupils. It is particularly heartening that Manjusri Secondary School has produced value-added GCE 'O' Level results for three consecutive years since 1996.

2 Many factors contribute to the making of a good school. The establishment of strong traditions is one of them. These play an important role in shaping the values and beliefs of a pupil. Let me share with you the story of the moso tree. The moso is a bamboo plant that grows in China and the far east. After the moso is planted, no visible growth occurs for up to five years - even under ideal conditions! Then, as if by magic, it suddenly begins growing at the rate of nearly two and one half feet per day, reaching a full height of ninety feet within six weeks. But it's not magic. The moso's rapid growth is due to the miles of roots it develops during those first five years, five years of getting ready¹.

3 This illustrates the importance of instilling a deep-rooted system of values in our children. They serve as an anchor in a world that is buffeted by the winds of change, currently associated with globalisation and the revolution in IT and telecommunications. However, even as we strive to provide a stable moral environment for our pupils, our schools need to continually review and reexamine their practices in order to remain relevant.

4 I understand that Manjusri has recently undertaken an envisioning exercise and reviewed its systems and structures for the betterment of the school. I am pleased to note that it has adopted a new overarching framework which is grounded in its mission "to develop every individual to be a responsible life-long learner". Manjusri's vision is to imbue in all Manjusrians a passion for learning and a commitment to serve. The school has also come up with guiding principles for its work, with a heavy emphasis on people development. I commend you for your efforts in organisational review and innovation.

5 To realise your vision, it is equally important to create a conducive learning environment for both staff and pupils. The school has upgraded its facilities and installed both the hardware and software necessary for today's learning environment. I am particularly pleased to hear that, apart from computer labs and a multimedia library, you have a Performing Arts Centre which, together with the CCA and CIP programmes, will certainly help your pupils develop into all-rounded persons.

6 Teachers are the key to a successful education. The role of the teacher has taken on new dimensions in education for the new century. They now act as facilitators who guide pupils in their lifelong learning process. By designing innovative teaching strategies, such as interdisciplinary project work, teachers help pupils develop integrated knowledge and apply knowledge in creative ways. This will give pupils a good preparation for the KBE world of this century. The teachers of Manjusri, I have been told, consciously promote practices of a constructivist classroom, and integrate co-operative learning strategies into their lesson plans. Subject teachers also share their best practices at weekly Quality Time Sessions. This new mindset of sharing is to be encouraged.

7 I would like to add that principals, HODs or teachers alone cannot implement school programmes successfully, without the involvement of parents and community. The partnership of the school, home and community is essential in ensuring that pupils are exposed to consistent messages of values and attitudes towards living, and that they receive sustained support for their learning endeavours. This necessary partnership in education implies that a school must consciously engage the parents and the community in its planning cycle. I was interested to hear that Manjusri has actually involved all the stakeholders - the staff, pupils, SMC members, Alumni and parents in a series of forums and informal group discussions to come up with the school's strategic plan. I would like to commend Manjusri for so wholeheartedly embracing this approach of involving the stakeholders in delivering quality education to your pupils. I encourage all schools to follow your example and put to practice what MOE strongly advocates in this area.

8 As I conclude, let me underscore the importance of providing a holistic education for the pupils. The achievement of a good ranking or good value-added results should not be the ultimate ambition of a good school. The challenge lies in delivering an education that moulds pupils of sterling character, with a passion for lifelong learning and a burning desire to serve humanity. Let me encourage Manjusri Secondary School to take up this challenge in committing itself to be a good school.