MOE Speech - SPEECH BY MR HAWAZI DAIPI, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION & MINISTRY OF MANPOWER, AT THE PROMOTION CEREMONY FOR DIVISION II, III & IV EXECUTIVE & ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

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SPEECH BY MR HAWAZI DAIPI, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION & MINISTRY OF MANPOWER, AT THE PROMOTION CEREMONY FOR DIVISION II, III & IV EXECUTIVE & ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ON SAT 28 JUNE 2003 AT 9:30AM AT THE MOE EDUTORIUM

Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen

A very good morning.

1           Firstly, allow me to extend my warmest congratulations to the 402 Executive & Administrative Staff (EAS) officers promoted on 1 June this year. These officers have been promoted into and within the various Division II, III and IV schemes of service, including 28 officers who have successfully crossed from the Division III to the Division II schemes. Another 4 officers may also be promoted in the coming months. You have all worked hard and done well. My heartiest congratulations to all of you.

2           Amongst the EAS staff promoted, 259 Operations Support Officers (OSOs) promoted from OSO Grade V to OSO Grade IV this year deserve special mention. Each of these officers spent 75 training hours undergoing six training programmes conducted by IPAM in order to meet the requirements for promotion. Their commitment to training and upgrading is commendable. Their supervisors too have played a part by giving their support to the officers and making it possible for them to attend the training.

COJTC Full Implementation

3           Training and upgrading of skills and knowledge have always been an important part of MOE's professional development plan for our officers. For our Division II to IV staff, MOE has rolled out several training initiatives in recent years. One such important initiative is the On-the-Job Training Programme (OJT) for Corporate Support Officers (CSOs) and OSOs in schools.

4           I am pleased to announce that in February this year, MOE's OJT programmes were audited by the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and that our status as a Certified On-the-Job Training Centre has been renewed for a further three years. This is a strong affirmation of MOE's continuing efforts to provide useful and relevant training, especially for our new Division II to IV officers.

5           On-the-job training offers a simple yet effective concept of training. It allows officers to receive systematic coaching from their supervisors while carrying out their actual work duties. This results in a non-formal, self-paced developmental programme for our staff where learning is structured and conducted through step-by-step demonstrations, guided instruction, skills practice, independent learning and follow-up. Officers who have successfully gone through the OJT programme will be multi-skilled and be able to take on varied roles in different administrative or operational areas. Such officers will remain relevant and be able to adapt to changing requirements in the workplace.

6           Since the OJT Programme was initiated in 2001, MOE has gradually appointed more of our Administration Managers (AMs) and Operations Managers (OMs) as trained OJT Instructors. From this year, all our AMs and OMs have attended training on conducting OJT and have been appointed as OJT Trainers. Thus, all schools are now equipped to implement the OJT programme.

7           I would like to encourage all CSOs and OSOs in schools to take part actively in the OJT programme. The benefits of OJT are clear. OJT will allow you to increase your skill level in various areas within your job scope. Furthermore, you do not have to travel as you can be trained while doing your job in school. Through OJT, you will be able to perform your duties better and contribute to your school.

8           For OSOs, the various areas for OJT include Housekeeping, Office Administration, Security and General Operations. You can learn useful skills like how to operate duplicator machines and how to arm and disarm Intruder Detection Systems in schools. For CSOs, OJT will cover areas like General Administration, Personnel as well as Finance. Useful topics under OJT include the Management of Relief Teachers and the Management of Revenue.

9           To date, MOE has issued more than 50 Certificates to CSOs and 302 to OSOs for the successful completion of OJT Modules. I hope many more of you will follow in their footsteps and profit from this programme to learn new skills and keep yourselves up-to-date. On our part, the Ministry will continue to support you in your upgrading endeavour and offer new courses in the relevant areas of need.

Challenge posed by SARS

10         Lastly, allow me to comment on the on-going anti-SARS efforts in our schools. For the past few months, all of you have played an important role in combating SARS alongside our teachers. You have helped ensure that our school premises are kept clean and have assisted your Principals and teachers in performing various vital tasks, such as temperature screening and data collation.

11         The Ministry appreciates your hard work and dedication. With your help, we achieved good attendance rates when schools re-opened in March. This signified the confidence parents have in the precautionary measures we implemented in schools. With schools reopening on Monday after the June school holidays, we must continue to be vigilant against SARS. We count on your dedication to continue with the precautionary measures and to help ensure that schools remain a safe place for students, your colleagues and yourselves.

Conclusion

12         In closing, let me once again congratulate all the officers promoted this year. You have done well and I am confident that you will keep up the good work. I wish you every success.

Thank you.