30 June 2002

SPEECH BY DR NG ENG HEN, MINISTER OF STATE FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER,
AT METTA WELFARE ASSOCIATION GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY,
SUNDAY 30 JUN 2002 AT 10.00 AM AT SIMEI STREET 1

1 I am delighted to be here this morning for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Metta Welfare Association Complex. This complex will house the Metta School and the Metta Welfare Association Headquarters. Co-location will benefit its users. In the case of Metta Welfare Association, it means the sharing of facilities between the school and the headquarters. It also facilitates easier communication and integration of services since the Metta School comes under the administration of the Association.

2 I compliment the Association and its supporters for their untiring efforts in providing welfare services. Metta Welfare Association was founded in 1992 and within a short span of 10 years, under the able leadership of Venerable Shi Fa Zhao, set up 9 centres to cater to the disabled, the elderly, the terminally ill and pupils who need before and after school care. What is impressive is that 5 of these centers were set up within a year, between October 2000 and September 2001. This building project is yet another milestone. The complex, in particular the school building, promises modern facilities and features customized to meet the needs of the pupils. When ready in the later part of 2004, Metta School will be the 7th purpose-built special school in Singapore. I am told that it will have the capacity for 600 pupils. By 2012, another 10 purpose-built special schools would be completed, making a total of 17.

3 My Ministry is greatly encouraged by the strong commitment of the voluntary welfare organizations, to embark on developing custom built school premises to replace their existing buildings so that they can deliver quality education for our children with special needs. As partners in special education, the Ministry of Education provides 90% of the construction cost for redevelopment of special schools, and technical and other support during the planning and building process. Here, I wish to add, that, however wonderful the infrastructure, it is not the physical building which makes for quality education. Rather, it is, the people and their strong sense of mission and commitment to bring out the best in our children with special needs.

4 Metta School, which started in January 2001, has an enrolment of about 120 children with mild intellectual disability and 10 with autism. The challenge now, for the school, is to work towards increasing its enrolment in preparation to reach its projected enrolment of 600 in 2004 when it moves into its new building. I would like to urge Metta School to expand its programme for children with autism. This group of children, needing placement in special schools, in recent years, has been increasing steadily. Metta School can be assured of support from MOE and the National Council of Social Service for expanding the programme for autistic children. I hope to be able to count on Metta School to respond positively to the plight of many autistic children who are waiting for admission to a special school. Each year of wait means a whole year wasted. The importance of early admission to special schools for this group of children cannot be overemphasized. It is a mission that the 3 partners must work towards in the provision of special education to our children with special needs.

5 May I wish the association and Metta School many meaningful years ahead and I look forward to the official opening of this building complex.