30 September 2000

OPENING ADDRESS BY RADM TEO CHEE HEAN,
MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND SECOND MINISTER FOR DEFENCE,
AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE UNIFORMED GROUPS OFFICERS' SEMINAR
ON SATURDAY 30 SEP 2000 AT THE ORCHID COUNTRY CLUB AT 0930 HOURS

1 Good morning, Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, Minister of State for Law & Home Affairs, ladies and gentlemen.

2 The building of character and the inculcation of values is no less an important aspect of the total education of our students as is academic achievement. Often, only with the former, can the latter be, and the knowledge gained applied for the good of society. Our uniformed groups provide a powerful way to mould character and inculcate values.

3 The 8 uniformed groups have a total membership of 72,000. There are 92 secondary schools (about 60%) which have more than 30% of their school enrolment in uniformed groups. These statistics indicate that uniformed groups have a special attraction to our youth, when there are so many other co-curricular activities such as sports and games and clubs and societies offered to them.

4 The uniformed groups provide a long list of exciting activities that appeal to their sense of adventure. And it is through such enjoyable and challenging activities that character and values are built - essential qualities such as resolve, integrity, commitment, trustworthiness, and loyalty to family, friends and country, upon which success as an individual and the future of our country are founded.

5 Our uniformed groups are particularly good at inculcating self-discipline and group loyalty - key characteristics that provide the foundation to mould cadets into responsible individuals and valuable team members.

6 When pupils join a uniformed group, they accept the ethos and values that go with being in a uniformed group. They develop a sense of identity with the group and their comrades, and learn to pull their weight to accomplish a task or reach out to others to lend support and assistance so that the whole team can shine.

7 In the myriad of activities offered by the uniformed groups, there are activities which require practice and drill to achieve mastery; there are also activities which test endurance and patience. Many of these activities are deliberately designed to mould the character of our cadets and shape their values.

8 The many opportunities to exercise leadership help our youths to grow and mature; to show care and concern for those they lead, and to form bonds of friendship and trust.

9 These core elements are already present in varying degrees in the mission and vision statements of the 8 uniformed groups. I am glad that the eight uniformed group headquarters together with the CCA Branch have come up with core activities for all secondary one and two members of the uniformed groups to provide greater focus on these essential elements.

10 This core syllabus will cover topics such as Footdrill, First Aid, Community Service, Community Singing, Outdoor Adventure and Total Defence. Footdrill allows the pupils to develop self-discipline, and learn the essential attributes of teamwork and precision. First Aid equips them to relieve human suffering and teaches them the importance of protecting human lives. Community Service trains them to be responsible citizens who are caring and sharing towards their fellow citizens, and to be mindful of the environment. Community Singing creates bonding and encourages them to share and express their joy and sadness, hopes and fears with each other. Outdoor Adventure training fosters resourcefulness and resilience and develops a sense of adventure. The Total Defence package develops national cohesion and cultivates our cadets' instincts for survival and confidence in the future of Singapore.

12 This climate of partnership among the uniformed groups has also led to the publication of the Uniformed Groups Handbook. This Handbook will keep the principals and those in charge of CCA in our secondary schools abreast of the uniformed groups' objectives and training syllabi, so that they can give better assistance and support to the units in their schools to provide quality training.

13 To reinforce this spirit of co-operation among the 8 uniformed groups, all uniformed group trainers will attend a 2-day team building course. The course, specially tailored for trainers will be implemented in June 2001. For the very first time teacher-officers and volunteers from the various uniformed groups will be attending a course together. Such an atmosphere will create opportunities for the officers and volunteers to interact, collaborate, and exchange experiences and ideas, thus learning from each other and establishing a wider working network.

14 I hope that the core syllabus and the team building course will add even more vitality and zeal to the pupils and teachers in our uniformed groups, and help focus their energy towards a common goal. This will ensure that our uniformed groups will continue to play an important role in moulding the character and values of our youth in the years to come.

15 I wish you all a fruitful discussion and a challenging and fulfilling year ahead.