SPEECH BY MR THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, AT THE 21ST COLLEGE DAY OF ANDERSON JUNIOR COLLEGE AT ANDERSON JUNIOR COLLEGE

SPEECH BY MR THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, AT THE 21^ST COLLEGE DAY OF ANDERSON JUNIOR COLLEGE AT ANDERSON JUNIOR COLLEGE ON SATURDAY, 21 MAY 2005 AT 3.00 PM

Mr Tan Tiek Kwee, Principal, Anderson Junior College

Dr Albert Hong, Chairman of the AJC School Advisory Committee

Principals and Vice-principals

My colleagues from the Ministry of Education

Teachers and Alumni

Ladies and Gentlemen

Introduction

2. Thank you for inviting me to your 21^st College Day. It has been my privilege to have been involved in a number of AJC’s activities in recent years: Paradigma in 2003 and your 20^th Anniversary Dinner in 2004. Earlier this year in March, I visited AJC and was able to see the continuous progress and maturing of the college.

3. Despite its relative youthfulness at just 21 years, AJC has recorded many impressive achievements. It has gained widespread recognition as a colega of distinction. But like any 21 year old, AJC has to think hard about the future. It is an exciting future for both students and teachers, with new boundaries to explore in education, new frontiers to prepare our students to discover, and tremendous opportunities opening up in the world around us.

CREATING THE FUTURE

Developing Intellectual Capital

4. Instead of trying to predict the future and prepare for it, I would like to challenge AJC to create the future: to groom students who will create the opportunities of the future, who will be leaders in their generation in business, government and in the community, and who will thrive in the future that their generation will shape together.

5. AJC is well positioned to do so. It is embarking on new directions aimed at nurturing students with inquiring minds, and a passion for discovery that lasts through life. To fuel intellectual curiosity, AJC has been experimenting with various methods to encourage students to be self-directed learners. These strategies include the use of an e-learning portal to host e-forum discussions, e-lectures, online self-assessments, games and resource banks. To support teachers in the creation and customization of their learning packages, the College has given priority to building teachers’ own capacity, and is providing them opportunity for continual professional development.

6. I understand that one of the strategic thrusts of AJC, as identified through the Balanced Scorecard Approach that the school’s management has adopted, is “to instill a passion for science research”. It is a good strategy. The College aims to strengthen its identity in a increasingly diverse school landscape, through its focus on science research.

7. The emphasis on passion could not be more relevant. In the world of the workplace, in research and in virtually all areas of endeavour in real life, passion is the X-factor that differentiates the average player from those who inspire others and those who break new ground. It is the key factor that pushes us on, and makes us search for new beginnings when we reach dead ends - and dead ends are common in any work at the boundaries of knowledge.

Building Community through Partnerships

8. The Elementz Lab, a Centre of Excellence for the North Zone schools that resides in AJC has been an important vehicle for kindling students’ passion for science. It also reflects the fact that strategic partnerships between different institutions are important as we create the future. It illustrates how a zonal Centre of Excellence can impact on many schools. I understand that by the end of this year, every primary and secondary school, as well as every Junior college in the North Zone would have participated in at least one project facilitated by Elementz. For example, primary school teachers in the North Zone schools get their first lessons on DNA at Elementz before returning to their classrooms to excite their young pupils in a part of this hugely evolving field of science.

9. I am also pleased to see that the college has explored possibilities of more partnerships with external agencies such as A*Star, NTU and NUS, and is developing work attachment schemes and university advanced placement schemes for its students to widen their experience and knowledge.

Values for the Future: The Importance of Character Education

10. AJC takes its role of grooming society’s future leaders seriously. I understand that the college has introduced the Alpha Programme to develop and groom its students in leadership, communication and process skills.

11. These are key life skills, not just ancillaries to the academic skills that we train our students in. At the core of the education our JCs seek to provide, an education aimed at creating the future, is the nurturing of students with the strength of character that allows them to lead.

12. I always recall the college motto “Non Mihi Solum”, or “Not For Myself Alone”. It speaks of a spirit of selflessness and of social enterprise that all our schools believe in and want to do more to encourage.

13. I am heartened that at AJC, many alumni have returned to render help and support to the college. These come in different forms, such as helping to train students in CCAs like the Chinese Orchestra, Dance, TLDDS Drama for SYF competitions. The College is I am sure proud to see members of its alumni living up to the college motto.

14. It is a sphere of volunteerism that is open to all Singaporeans, and which I would strongly encourage. Everyone can help in our schools, impart a skill, do something to inspire our young, mentor or guide them in the confusion of their growing years, and help them become the leaders that will make Singapore’s future.

Conclusion

16. I am confident that AJC is up to the challenge of creating the future. I note that in 2004, the college received 3 major awards, the Best Practice Award in Teaching and Learning from MOE and 2 other awards from SPRING Singapore: the People Developer Standard, PDS in short; and the Singapore Quality Class Award, or the SQC Award. My heartiest congratulations to everyone involved in gaining these marks of recognition for the good processes in place in the College.

17. Your achievements as a college reflect the fine efforts of the whole AJC community, including its SAC, the college leaders and staff, and the students and alumni. I should make special mention of Mr Tan Tiek Kwee, who has led the college with a steady hand and open leadership style over the last 7 years, and brought it to what it is today, an achieving college.

18. On this note, I wish to extend my congratulations to all AJCians – past and present, on the 21^st College Day of Anderson Junior College.