3 August 2002

SPEECH BY DR NG ENG HEN, MINISTER OF STATE FOR EDUCATION & MANPOWER, ON THE OCCASION OF THE INAUGURATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CHEMICAL EDUCATION AT IPAM IN CIVIL SERVICE COLLEGE ON SATURDAY, 3 AUGUST 2002 AT 9.10 AM

Prof Chia Lian Sai,
Chairman of the Organising Committee
of the First Singapore International Symposium on Chemical Education

Prof Toh Kok Aun,
Head of Science & Technology Education Academic Group
of the National Institute of Education;

1. I am happy to be here this morning to launch the first international symposium on chemical education.

2. Chemistry has always fascinated mankind - from medieval days, when the alchemist sought to turn base metals to gold, to present times with industries such as petrochemicals, specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, materials engineering, energy production and hi-tech agriculture.

3. Indeed, this is not idle fascination as the chemicals industry is an important driver of economic growth in Singapore. In the year 2000, the chemicals industry grew by 35 %, with an output of $31.7 billion. Its percentage share of the total manufacturing output was second only to the electronics sector. The value added per worker in the same year was $199,000, and this far exceeded the manufacturing sector average. Jurong Island is now a world-class hub for the chemicals industry. Many multinational companies from USA, Europe and Japan base their operations there. We aim to generate an output of at least $75 billion in the chemicals industry by the year 2010. The need to develop more manpower capabilities and expertise in the chemical sciences among our people is thus important.

4. In school, our students get an opportunity to specialize in chemistry from Secondary 3 onwards. It is a subject of examination at both the O and A levels. Should the students wish to pursue their interest, further scope for specialization in chemistry is afforded at the polytechnic and university levels. Our graduates in chemistry make important contributions in our chemicals industry and even in the civil service.

5. I note that the field of chemical education has matured significantly over the years. The field of chemistry mutually enriches other fields, for example, information technology and the life sciences. Such a symbiotic relationship has led to the blurring of boundaries between the various scientific disciplines giving rise to an important consequence.

6. With globalisation and greater integration among the various disciplines, traditional career paths are no longer relevant as the changing political and economic environment necessitate the creation of new jobs and vocations. This means our students need to be equipped with multi-disciplinary knowledge and be multi-skilled if our economy is to continue to compete effectively.

7. Life-long learning, along with the desire to improve oneself, is thus one of the traits that our students must be imbued with in the face of further advances in science and technology and as industrial operations move up the value chain as a consequence of global competition.

8. I understand that more than half of the participants in this symposium are school teachers. Others attending this symposium include staff and graduate students from our two universities as well as foreign delegates. This symposium is a good platform to expose participants to best practices and to update them with the latest developments. They can in turn transmit these ideas in their role as teachers.

9. To continue the collaboration begun with this symposium, it will be a feather in their cap if the organizers make this symposium into an annual event so that our teachers and graduate students can keep abreast of new developments in the field of chemical education. They can contribute to Singapore's competitiveness, which hinges a great deal on our ability to harness the potential of science and technology for our economic development.

10. I commend the organizers, the Science & Technology Education Academic Group of the National Institute of Education and the Singapore National Institute of Chemistry, for taking the initiative to organise this symposium and assembling an international team of eminent scientists.

11. On this note, it gives me great pleasure to declare the symposium open and I hope that as you learn and interact together, you will come away enriched by the experience.