SPEECH BY MR THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM, ACTING MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF LAKESIDE PRIMARY SCHOOL, ON FRIDAY 23 JULY 2004, AT 6:00PM

Mr Ng Soo Siah
Chairman, Lakeside Primary School Advisory Committee

Mr Chew Chong Theng
Principal, Lakeside Primary School

Mr Lu Cheng Yang
Director, Personnel, Ministry of Education

Mrs Susan Chan
Deputy Director, Schools, West

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

Boys and girls

1 It gives me great pleasure to be here this evening at the Official Opening of Lakeside Primary School.  Lakeside Primary School has done very well within a short space of time.  It has built on the distinct strengths and traditions of the three schools that preceded it, namely Jurong Town Primary, Merlimau Primary and Yung Ann Primary schools.  Lakeside has also created a new identity for itself, bringing about a strong sense of camaraderie and belonging amongst the staff and pupils, as well as the support of all parents.

Providing Every Child a Good Start

2 If I had to summarise what we hope to achieve in our primary schools, it is to nurture happy, confident and well-adjusted young souls, with an unshakeable curiosity about the world they see around them.

3 There is no single way of doing this.  What we know is that we will best educate our children and prepare them for the future by giving them varied experiences from young.  We must give them maximum opportunity in school to ask questions, discover their interests, build confidence in themselves and interact freely with friends of different races and backgrounds.  And as parents, we must try our best to provide similar opportunity at home and in the community.

4 I am glad to see that Lakeside Primary has provided the environment and programmes for its pupils to develop holistically.  Lakeside is utilizing its new facilities to create a learning environment that challenges pupils to explore, think, reflect and enjoy themselves as they learn.

5 The school has, for example, taken its lessons outdoors to the nearby Chinese Gardens and the Science Centre.  It is efforts like these, to help students learn through exploration, that are not only effective but will I am sure leave memories in the children of how their primary school days were fun and enjoyable.

Strategies for Active and Independent Learning (SAIL)

 
6 In our school curriculum, we are making innovations to help children learn independently.  We are providing teachers with tools to help them empower and guide pupils to be engaged in active learning, not just passive learning.  We want to develop pupils to be more independent, more able to evaluate their own progress work and to learn from their mistakes.  In so doing, they will enhance their self-confidence.

7 I am glad to note that Lakeside Primary is taking up the opportunity for the teachers to be trained in the use of the SAIL approach (launched by MOE a few months ago) so that they can help their pupils develop these skills.

Partial Single Session

8 I am happy to note that Lakeside Primary School will be implementing the partial single session structure in 2005 with all the Primary 3 to Primary 6 classes functioning in the morning session and the 8 Primary 2 classes and the proposed 12 Primary 1 classes in the afternoon session.  There are advantages to such an arrangement.  For example, in the afternoons, pupils from the upper primary classes can make use of the extra space and facilities for enrichment programmes, CCA or independent learning.

9 The conduct of common sessions in the afternoons for co-curricular activities (CCA) ranging from sports and games to the performing arts, can foster stronger bonds among the pupils.  The P3-6 pupils will now be learning together as one CCA group rather than two groups in different sessions.  Through these common activities, pupils will learn to care, share and persevere as they work in teams.

Smaller class size in Primary 1 and Primary 2

10 From January 2005, Primary 1 classes will be smaller, with a reduced class size of 30 pupils.  Primary 2 classes will be reduced to 30 pupils the next year.  The smaller numbers of pupils in class will enable teachers to cater to the needs of the different groups of pupils in a class more effectively.  Teachers will have more opportunities to engage their pupils actively, providing each pupil with more support and attention.

Working with Parents and the Community

11 Lakeside Primary has worked closely with the Taman Jurong grassroots organizations on its Community Involvement Programmes, as well as numerous other activities in the community.  This has given its pupils the chance to show off their talents in music and dance, and brought them closer to the community.

12 I am also heartened to know that the school has been working closely with its parents.  This collaboration is essential if we are to succeed in education.  It allows schools to increase the range and quality of programmes they offer their pupils, by tapping on the talents and energies of parents  -  for example in CCAs, reading programmes and the arts.  It enriches pupils’ learning.  The schools in turn, like Lakeside Primary, can help parents to guide their children in their studies.

13 In conclusion, I wish to congratulate the Principal, staff, SAC members and the pupils of Lakeside Primary School on the Official Opening of the school.  Continue with your good efforts to enrich the learning, and the development of the potential, of each pupil in Lakeside Primary School.  I would also encourage you in your efforts to enhance links with the community to make Lakeside Primary School an institution that we will all be very proud of.  I now have the pleasure of declaring Lakeside Primary School open.