SPEECH BY MR HAWAZI DAIPI, SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINSTRY OF EDUCATION & MINISTRY OF MANPOWER, AT FUCHUN PRIMARY SCHOOL’S ARTS FESTIVAL ON THURSDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 2004, AT 7.00 PM AT THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE UNIVERSITY CULTURAL CENTRE

Mrs Constance Yip
Principal, Fuchun Primary School

Distinguished guests

Parents, teachers and students of Fuchun Primary

Good evening.

1.      I am very pleased to be here with you this evening for Fuchun Primary School’s inaugural Visual and Performing Arts Festival, ‘E Pluribus Maximus’, or ‘Greatness from Many’ in Latin.

Importance of the Arts
2.      Can anyone here today doubt the importance of the arts in our lives? Just imagine a world without photographs, artworks, theatre, and music. Instead of cherished photographs capturing significant and happy moments, we would only have faint memories of times past. Instead of being able to appreciate beautiful and thought-provoking masterpieces, we would only be able to stare at blank canvasses or shapeless pieces of clay. We would not even be able to cheer on our favourite performers in Singapore Idol. Clearly, a world without the arts would be less colourful, vibrant and enriching, and an infinitely duller and more drab place.

3.      The arts are everywhere in our lives, from the advertisements you see, to the car you drive. They are present in the smallest details, from the programme booklet that we hold in our hands here tonight, to architectural wonders like the Taj Mahal. The arts add depth and dimension to the environment we live in, and shape our everyday experience. They present our world as it is – a contrasting and baffling mix of variety and viewpoints. I believe the well-known painter and sculptor, Edgar Degas put it best when he said, ““Art is not what you see, but what you make others see”. 

Development of the local Arts scene
4.      The arts in Singapore have developed tremendously over the past decade. This is in no small measure due to the concerted efforts of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA), the National Arts Council (NAC) and other art and community organisations to promote our local arts.. There is growing public appreciation for and participation in the arts. There are more arts events and exhibitions. The figures speak for themselves. Compared to 1989, ticketed attendance for performing arts increased by about 75 per cent in 2003. The number of arts activities and events also jumped from less than 2000 in 1989, to over 5000 in 2003. 

5.      Undoubtedly, Singapore is well on its way to becoming a global Renaissance city, internationally renowned for its dynamic and creative arts and cultural landscape. Cultural Medallion winner and celebrated potter, Iskander Jalil, has held solo exhibitions in countries like Japan and Sweden. Local theatre company, Action Theatre has staged critically acclaimed productions in New York and China. Its musical, Chang and Eng, was the first English language musical to be staged in China where it played to sell-out audiences at the 1800-seat Century Theatre in Beijing in December 1997. Megan Zheng, who won the Best Newcomer award at Taiwan’s 40th Golden Horse Awards, is the same age as many students here tonight. These are just three examples of our home-grown artistic talents who have done us proud over the years, while being stationed locally. So, as you can see, there are many opportunities for those who are talented in the arts.

6.      As a signal of its continued commitment to holistic education, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has also broadened its school ranking system to better reflect and recognise schools’ academic and non-academic achievements. The revamped Masterplan of Awards that was announced in September, recognises schools’ various areas of excellence – the academic, physical, and aesthetic as well as character development fields. MOE will also launch the Programme for School-Based Excellence (PSE) in January 2005 to better support primary schools with strong niche programmes. Successful applicant schools will receive recurrent funding of up to $100,000 per year to improve the quality and outreach of their school-based initiatives.

7.      At the community level, schools can also collaborate with community clubs, Residents’ Committees (RCs) and grassroots leaders, to make the arts an integral part of people’s life. For instance, the Marsiling constituency has already set up the youth Chinese and Malay orchestras open to both teenagers and young adults.

Fuchun Primary’s Achievements
8.      Fuchun Primary is one school that is actively pursuing the visual and performing arts as a niche area. It has put in place several innovative programmes. One such initiative is Fuchun’s monthly Art boards. Each class is given ownership of two Art boards which line the walls along the school’s staircases. Students’ best artworks are displayed on these boards, which are also appraised by Art teachers. Not only do students get to showcase their artistic efforts to the rest of the school, they also help to give the school environment a unique flavour of its own.  In 2002, Fuchun Primary also became the first school to put up a full-length concert entitled “Carpe Diem” at the Esplanade, raising about $25, 000 for the Singapore Handicapped Welfare Association in the process.

9.      The pupils and teachers of Fuchun Primary have put in much time and effort in preparing for tonight’s musical. The musical, which revolves around four families of different racial backgrounds, will regal us with dance, song and instrumental performances. Other pupils have also contributed their best art pieces for auction, which has been conducted by pupils themselves. I have even heard that the pupils have formed a company called “The Artpreneurs” and sold shares at $5 each to cover the costs of producing their artworks! Part of the proceeds will also go to the school’s needy pupil fund. You are hardnosed businesspeople, but certainly businesspeople with big hearts.

10.     To Fuchun Primary school and especially, the students, my congratulations for organising tonight’s event. I am certain it will be a big success. It augurs well for our nation that schools like Fuchun Primary are committed to arts education among our young. I wish all of you an enjoyable evening of musical and artistic appreciation.

         Thank you.