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SPEECH BY RADM TEO CHEE HEAN, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION & SECOND MINISTER FOR DEFENCE & MP FOR PASIR RIS GRC
AT THE EDUSAVE MERIT BURSARY/EDUSAVE SCHOLARSHIP/CDC-CCC POLYTECHNIC AND UNIVERSITY AWARDS PRESENTATION CEREMONY
ON SUNDAY 31 DECEMBER 2000 AT GREENVIEW SECONDARY SCHOOL @ 9 AM

Principals,
Chairmen and Members of the School Advisory Committees,
Community Leaders,
Award recipients, parents, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning.

A quick take on education in Y2000

1. This year, our education system has had reason to celebrate. Singapore emerged first in Mathematics in the Third International Mathematics and Science Study 1999. This was a mathematics and science survey conducted on Secondary Two students from 38 countries. In the survey, we were also ranked second in Science. The excellent results are testimony to the high quality of Mathematics and Science education in Singapore. A key factor that has contributed to our success is the significant value which you, as parents and members of the community, place on education. Of course, without the excellent work of our teachers and principals, no measure of success would have been possible. Our rigorous curriculum in Singapore schools and high access to IT resources have also contributed to our good performance.
   
   
2. We have been able to achieve this distinction because we have initiated deep-seated, structural changes to our education system. These changes are necessary if we are to equip our young with the skills necessary to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. To prepare our pupils for the growth in the Life Sciences industry, we are moving towards enhancing the learning of Life Sciences in schools. This is part of our effort to provide a total education to our pupils. These changes to our curriculum will be implemented progressively from 2001. Our school system will continue to emphasise our traditional strengths in Mathematics and the physical sciences, while imbuing an appreciation of Life Sciences to all our pupils. The combination of our strengths in the physical sciences with our emphasis on the Life Sciences will create new opportunities in education, research, industry and, ultimately, a better quality of life.
   
   
3. While we enter this exciting phase in the evolution of our system, our fundamentals remain unchanged. Ours is a system that allows every Singaporean child to develop to their potential according to their capabilities. Education in Singapore is based on the central precept which emphasizes the importance of nurturing the whole child-morally, intellectually, physically, socially and aesthetically.
   

4. We are committed to ensuring that every child is provided with opportunities for learning and developing. This was the underlying philosophy in recommending that primary compulsory education be introduced in national schools.
   
   
5. Our greatest resource is our human capital. This dictates the premium we place on our education. It is crucial that our young are given the opportunity to benefit from our education system. To realise this the government, together with various sectors of the community, has put in place financial assistance schemes for families who are in need of help for providing for their children in school. These schemes are manifestations of government's assurances that no child in Singapore be denied an education because he is unable to afford the fees.
   
   
   The Edusave Awards
   
   
6. The Edusave Awards, the brainchild of Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, was introduced primarily to encourage academic excellence. The Edusave Scholarships for primary, secondary and post-secondary students are designed to reward students who have done well in their studies. Pupils are selected for these scholarships regardless of their economic background. This is in keeping with our principles of governance -a system of rewards based on meritocracy. This year 23,599 pupils will receive these awards which amount to $8,247,800. In Pasir Ris Loyang Division, alone, the number of students receiving the Edusave Scholarship Awards comes up to 269.
   
   
7. A second scheme, the Edusave Merit Bursary scheme for primary, secondary and ITE students aims to motivate students from lower-middle and low-income homes to do better academically. Pupils who are within the top 25% of each level and stream and whose household income is below $3,000 per month are eligible to apply for the bursary. This merit bursary gives recognition to pupils from less well-off families who do well academically and encourages them to strive further. This year 41,996 primary, secondary and Pre-university pupils will receive their bursaries. The total value of this year's merit bursaries amounts to $8,668,400 with 560 students from Pasir Ris Loyang receiving these bursaries today.

Support for Schools

8. In Singapore, we are fortunate that the community takes an active role in promoting excellence in education. This is demonstrated in today's presentation of the Northeast Community Development Council (CDC) and Pasir Ris Loyang Citizens' Consultative Committee (CCC) -Polytechnic and University Awards. In Pasir Ris Loyang, seven students will receive their polytechnic awards amounting to $7,000 and one will receive the university award of $1,000. These awards underscore the significance of the alliance that the community has with our schools. Forging such alliances is a move towards a win-win situation for members of the community.
   
   
9. Our schools are able to produce students who do well because of the support they receive from the community as well as the home. This support is clearly shown with the presence of parents and community leaders today. I am also pleased to note that the final segment of today's ceremony will be the presentation of long service awards to members of the school advisory committees. The spirit of volunteerism of these members enhances the growing support that society is giving to our students.
   
   
10. To this morning's award recipients and their proud families, my heartiest congratulations. Let these achievements spur you on to greater successes in the coming years. I understand many of us are still in the festive mood. So to our Christian and Muslim friends, let me say Merry Christmas and Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Let me end with wishing everyone here a very Happy New Year to everyone and to more good years ahead.
    
    
11. Thank you.