MOE Speech - SPEECH BY MR HAWAZI DAIPI, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION, AT THE OPENING OF THE SOCIAL STUDIES SYMPOSIUM 2003

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SPEECH BY MR HAWAZI DAIPI, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION, AT THE OPENING OF THE SOCIAL STUDIES SYMPOSIUM 2003 ON MON 17 MAR 2003 AT 9.00AM AT YORK HOTEL

Good morning

Professor Gopinathan
Dean (Foundation Programmes), National Institute of Education

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen

              It is my pleasure to be here with you today, at the opening of the Social Studies Symposium 2003. I extend a very warm welcome to all participants to this symposium, as well as to our guests from overseas. Looking at the many papers and panel sessions lined up over these two days, I can see that everyone has a packed and exciting programme ahead of them. Nonetheless, I sincerely hope that our friends from overseas will be able to set aside some time to take in the sights of this island home of ours, and to experience first-hand our Asian hospitality.

2            I understand that the response to this event was overwhelming, and that all available places were snapped up within a very short time. The excellent turnout is testimony to the professionalism of our teachers, their zeal in improving their teaching practices to benefit their students, and the relevance of the symposium theme.

3            The theme, "Establishing New Frontiers: Social Studies in the Twenty-First Century", invokes images of pioneers engaged on a journey of discovery where fresh and novel approaches and possibilities abound. Social Studies is taught at the primary and secondary levels in Singapore schools. This notion of breaking new ground is apt given that the Social Studies syllabuses have been revamped and Social Studies is now taught to more students as a compulsory subject or component of a subject. We have drawn on the best practices adopted by other countries in the teaching and learning of the subject, while at the same time, taking into account the unique characteristics of our multiracial and multicultural society.

4            Today, at this symposium, we are also privileged to be able to draw on the knowledge of our colleagues from abroad. The perspectives that each of you will bring to the discussion through your own experience will, I am sure, enrich the sessions considerably and add to the collective body of knowledge that we have. I am, therefore, pleased to see that the presentation papers cover a wide range of issues challenging the field of Social Studies today. I have no doubt that they will serve to whet the appetite and generate much food for thought.

SOCIAL STUDIES IN THE KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY

5            We live in a complex and challenging world, characterised by rapid developments in science and technology. Educationists face unique challenges in preparing students for the knowledge economy so that they have the content knowledge and the skills to be adept, nimble and resilient when competing and contributing in the global marketplace. At the same time, our students must also be well grounded in what it means to be confident, active and responsible citizens and members of the community, with a deep sense of belonging to both community and nation.

6            In Singapore, Social Studies provides another avenue for the teaching of National Education through the formal curriculum. At the upper secondary level, the Social Studies syllabus is organised around the six National Education (NE) themes. It focuses on Singapore's road to nationhood, principles of governance, regional and international developments, and issues which may affect the survival and growth of Singapore in a competitive world. The subject adopts a multi-disciplinary approach, integrating the disciplines of History, Geography, Economics and Political Science. Events and issues are presented through a variety of documentary, statistical and visual resource documents so as to make the teaching and learning of Social Studies interesting and challenging. When working on the source materials, our students also have ample opportunity to exercise their analytical and thinking skills and make informed judgments on key events and issues around them. Social Studies has helped to instil in our students a sense of national identity and to build in them a deep sense of commitment towards the nation as responsible citizens. It has also helped to develop in them a more mature global outlook by learning from the experiences of developed and developing countries in building socially cohesive and economically viable societies.

7            Indeed, Social Studies offers plenty of avenues for honing learning skills and processes: Students can reflect on the myriad issues and events taking place around them, deconstruct media reports and voice reasoned opinions. Having acquired the skills to respond to open-ended questions and to make well-informed judgments, they can actively and confidently participate in discussions on issues and events that interest them. Students are thus able to relate and reflect more closely on life as it unfolds around them, as captured on television, in newspaper articles and even in the coffeeshop conversations that mirror the pulse of the nation. In short, learning has become more meaningful and exciting.

8            As Social Studies teachers, you have a vital role to play in powering this process. You are at the frontline of action in the classroom. The challenge you face is to develop in your students the ability to think critically and to examine information, rather than be preoccupied with the mere acquisition of content knowledge. Just as no two peas are alike, no two students are alike in their approaches to learning. Rather than have a single way of reaching out to help your students to learn, you need to tailor your strategies and approaches to achieve the best learning and teaching experience for students of different abilities, needs and interests.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

9            Forums where professionals can meet, interact and discuss generate immense innovative energy as ideas are thrown up, refined and implemented. I would like to commend the National Institute of Education and its MOE partners for making this symposium a reality for Social Studies educators in Singapore. For teachers, imparting knowledge and marking examination scripts in this multi-disciplinary subject of Social Studies can be quite a challenge. There is therefore a need for us to organise sharing sessions like this for the teachers. These two days will present a wealth of opportunity for you to share your pioneering experiences, and to learn from experts who have explored different paths. It will enable you to update your knowledge and skills and to engage in intense intellectual exchanges on effective strategies in the teaching and learning of Social Studies. The ideas and interest generated will, I am sure, provide you with a more diverse and effective armoury of teaching strategies for the classroom.

10          For these reasons, I am pleased that so many of you are here today. I am also grateful that so many speakers and experts, our own as well as those from overseas, are willing to share their expertise and research findings with us. I am confident that the interaction will not be limited to the two days of this Symposium, and that having made contact, you will forge friendships and continue sharing and learning together.

11          I now have the pleasure of declaring the Social Studies Symposium open. I wish you all a fruitful and enriching time.