SPEECH BY MR THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SARASWATHY DARMA MUNEESWARAN KINDERGARTEN ON SATURDAY, 27 AUGUST 2005, AT 10.00 AM, AT BLK 838 YISHUN STREET 81

Dr Tan Boon Wan

Adviser to Ang Mo Kio GRC

Mr S Rajendran

Chairman Hindu Endowments Board

Mr N Prushuathamun

Chairman, Education Committee

Mr P Kalimuthu

President, Darma Muneeswaran Temple

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls

Introduction

1. It gives me great pleasure to join you at the official opening of Saraswathy Darma Muneeswaran Kindergarten. Today marks a significant milestone in the Hindu Endowments Board’s efforts to provide a quality pre-school education to children, with special emphasis on Tamil as a second language.

2. In 1990, the Hindu Endowments Board established Saraswathy Kindergarten, Singapore’s first Tamil kindergarten, at Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple. The Kindergarten was set up to fill a need for Tamil language education at the pre-school level. It proved appealing, so much that it was running three sessions by January 2001.

3. In an effort to expand on its social services, the Hindu Endowments Board decided to build a second pre-school centre in Yishun where there exists a high concentration of Indian families. This decision to open another pre-school also bright other benefits. It gave the Board an excellent opportunity to partner a non-Board Hindu temple in Singapore for a social cause. The Kindergarten we see before us signifies the successful collaboration between the Hindu Endowments Board and Darma Muneeswaran Temple. I hope more organizations will embark on similar joint ventures which can benefit the community at large.

Importance of a holistic pre-school education for a head start in life

4. All of us here today know that the pre-school years are a critical period for the development of our children. They shape how our children will grow in their school years, and how they will later create opportunities for themselves and contribute to society.

5. Through our kindergartens, we hope to make every child a happy, confident child. This is the best head start we can give our little ones. This is why a balanced and holistic approach to the education we provide children in their early years is crucial. We must give them a broad range of learning experiences, not learning that is centred on academic drilling. We must give them opportunities to explore, to play, to make friends and learn to look out for each other. We have to instill in them an eagerness to learn, and a willingness to persevere at an activity without giving up easily. This balanced and holistic approach to kindergarten education is the best way to get our children ready for school.

6. Saraswathy Darma Muneeswaran Kindergarten or SDMKG is a good example of a school that has adopted innovative approaches to educating its children holistically, in an environment of love and care. It has introduced learning through play, and learning that is geared to the individual needs of each child. The curriculum incorporates a comprehensive programme to introduce the children to learning with computers. It is also rooted in sound moral values, and exposes the children to the creative arts.

7. I was impressed to learn of the wide range of visual and performance arts classes that have been brought into the Kindergarten – activities like art class, Indian classical dance, carnatic vocal music, speech and drama, as well as children’s yoga. Other than the arts, its swimming programme has helped to develop the children’s confidence in their abilities, while the gym classes have fine-tuned the children’s motor skills.

Nurturing a love for languages

8. SDMKG’s efforts to raise the standards of the Tamil language amongst pre-schoolers are paying off. Not only are the children able to communicate in Tamil fluently, they are equally comfortable with the English language. The Kindergarten has helped the children to develop a love for both languages.

9. I am also pleased to learn that the Kindergarten has started Hindi and Mandarin courses as part of the enrichment programmes offered. This is a commendable initiative considering that the student population at SDMKG is largely from Tamil-speaking homes, and most opt for Tamil as their mother tongue language. Learning different languages will give our children opportunities for informal interactions and friendships with all races in Singapore, and even within the region. Conversational mother tongue exposure will also help Indian pupils build their confidence when interacting with people outside the Kindergarten.

Conclusion

10. I commend the Hindu Endowments Board, Darma Muneeswaran Temple, the school leadership and staff, as well as all the parents and pupils for their efforts to make the Kindergarten a success. I wish the Kindergarten every success in its endeavours to bring further quality into pre-school education, and to nurture children who will leave their kindergarten years confident of themselves and filled with a love for learning. It is my pleasure now to declare Saraswathy Darma Muneeswaran Kindergarten open.