Speech by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education Mr Mohamad Maidin Packer Mohd at the Trim And Fit (TAF) Retreat for Primary School Teachers (24 May 2001)

SPEECH BY MR MOHAMAD MAIDIN PACKER MOHD, SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AT THE TRIM AND FIT (TAF) RETREAT FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS ON 24 MAY 2001 AT 11.30 AM AT COSTA SANDS RESORT, EAST COAST

Officials from the School Health Service, Health Promotion Board, colleagues from the Ministry of Education, principals, vice-principals, teachers, ladies and gentlemen, a very good afternoon to all of you. I am pleased to join you at this year's Trim and Fit (TAF) Retreat for Primary School Teachers.

2. Earlier this year, I visited several schools to observe the TAF programme. I am happy to observe that the students are enjoying the activities conducted by the teachers, and to note that the schools' TAF programme provides a variety of interesting and challenging activities for our students. I am convinced that the TAF programme is a pillar for the development of our students' physical well-being and wish to express my whole-hearted support for the schools' efforts and dedication in this area.

3. The TAF programme serves to achieve twin objectives - to reduce obesity and to improve physical fitness among our school-going children. Our children, our people are our nation's most valuable resources. Their good health and fitness are critical to the robustness and productivity of Singapore's workforce, and to the tenacity of our defence forces. It is thus essential that we begin educating all our children about healthy living and eating from a young age. While the obese children would need more of our attention and encouragement, we must also ensure ample opportunities for the entire student population to engage in physical activity and acquire healthy eating habits.

4. For the obesity level, we have done well to maintain it at around 10% over the last few years. We must persevere with our efforts to move towards our national target of 9%.

5. For the TAF Retreat this year, a seminar for principals has been incorporated. It is appropriate as the principal is key to providing the vision and to leading a whole-school approach to the implementation of the TAF programme. The whole-school approach involves collaborations among the principal, vice-principal, heads-of-department, teachers, pupils, parents, canteen vendors and the community partners. I hope that the seminar has provided the principals and vice-principals with a useful overview of the TAF programme and the main features of an effective programme. I would like to urge you to continue with your fine efforts to improve and enhance the health and fitness levels of your students.

6. For the teacher participants, this residential TAF Retreat allows you to experience a wide spectrum of activities and strategies that can be adopted for the TAF programme in your school and cluster. The areas include programme planning and management, nutrition, behavioural modification and motivational issues. You will expend your energy, going through Fun and Fitness Games, Aerobics and Fitness Yoga. You will travel to a hawker centre for lunch. The objective is not to test your limits by tempting you to eat Char Kway Teow or fried chicken wings, but to engage you in a practical experience of making informed decisions about healthy eating. You can in turn engage your students in such an activity, which provides learning points so relevant to our children and families who are eating out more frequently than before. Most of all, you will be discussing and sharing with each other the best practices in your school, and networking with each other for future exchanges and collaborations at the school and cluster levels.

7. To conclude, I hope that this TAF Retreat equips all of you with the knowledge and skills for the implementation of an effective TAF programme in your schools, and refreshes you physically and mentally for the journey ahead. Your role in educating our students about healthy living and inculcating in them the necessary habits and values cannot be overemphasized. The TAF programme will encourage our pupils' pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, thus making feasible our national goal of a healthy and fit Singapore.

8. I wish to commend the organising committee of this TAF Retreat, the Physical Education Unit of the Ministry of Education and the School Health Service, Health Promotion Board for an interesting and beneficial programme.

9. It is now my pleasure to officially declare the 2001 TAF Retreat for Primary School Teachers open. Thank you.