Speech by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education at Poon Sing Wah's book launch - "Collection of Interviews with Principals in Singapore" and "Commentaries on Singapore Education" - at the Singapore Management Univeristy, Level 3

SPEECH BY MR THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, AT POON SING WAH’S BOOK LAUNCH – “COLLECTION OF INTERVIEWS WITH PRINCIPALS IN SINGAPORE” AND “COMMENTARIES ON SINGAPORE EDUCATION” – AT THE SINGAPORE MANAGEMENT UNIVERSITY, LEVEL 3, ON THURSDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 2006, AT 6 PM

Sing Wah,

Friends from the Singapore Press Holdings,

Principals and educators,

I am happy to have been invited by Sing Wah to join all of you this evening at the launch of her two books on educators and education in Singapore. An occasion like this gives leaders from across the education system the chance to meet as a community and catch up with each other. But also allows us to recognise the good work of Sing Wah in raising public awareness of challenges in education, and of the passion and dedication of a group of educationists who have committed much of their lives to nation-building.

2. So let me start by congratulating Sing Wah for pulling together her interviews and writings over two decades into these two important books. They will I am sure be of interest not just to educationists but everyone with a stake in Singapore education. I look forward too, to more books like these that will in time form a valuable resource on Singapore education, a body of literature that educators, cultural historians and social commentators can refer to.

A Tribute to Educators Who Made the Difference

3. Sing Wah’s book on Singapore’s leaders in education is I understand the first of its kind, recording first-hand accounts, anecdotes, and stories of school life in Singapore from the vantage point of principals and university presidents. It tells of the dilemmas, challenges and judgement calls that our school leaders have to make, but also the deep satisfaction that they experience as they pursue their cause. It provides a set of personal perspectives from the people who have brought a high quality education to Singaporeans within a remarkably short space of history. They are the people who have driven the transformation of Singaporeeducation on the ground.

4. And the most important action in education is on the ground - in the way leaders motivate and develop their colleagues, and in the experiences that each school provides to help its students develop the skills, habits and values that will take them through life.

5. It is difficult to summarise the insights and lessons we can draw from these many interviews with leaders in education. They each have their distinctive character and perspectives. But I think three things run through most of these interviews, which are common to leaders who make a real difference in the lives of their students. So let me simplify greatly and highlight these three traits of outstanding leaders.

6. The first is conviction. The outstanding school leaders are those who are passionate about our goals in education. The book shines with examples. Take Mr Goh Tong Pak, who was the principal of Xinmin Secondary for six years in the 1990s (92-97). When he first joined Xinmin, he witnessed many students, their parents, and even staff wanting to transfer out of the school. But Tong Pak had a mission. He wanted to turn the school from an underachieving neighbourhood school to one of the best schools in the area. We all know how he succeeded, driven by a mission. He got the teaching body together to change the culture of the school, by showing each student there that he was loved, and part of the school family. Tong Pak used to stay back in school to personally supervise his students when they revised their work. And when the studying is done, Mr Goh and his teachers would join students in their soccer, table-tennis, and the other ball games. After just two years, the teacher-student bonds were forged, student enrolment increased, and instead of teachers wanting to transfer out of the school, Tong Pak saw requests for former teachers to transfer back to the school. Today, Xinmin is a top value-added school that is leading the way in learning innovations.

7. The second trait that stands out in these stories is compassion - a desire to look out for students in difficult straits, help them put things together, gain confidence and succeed. There are again many examples in the book. Like how Mdm Lim Yen Ching (Principal of Shuqun Secondary) looks after students that are sometimes viewed as “rejects”. She has accepted a number of students who have run foul of the law. But under her watchful supervision and care, they have turned their lives around, and gone on to pass their O-level examinations well.

8. Compassion in our schools often comes with a firm hand. In the early days of Ngee Ann Secondary, before it became a well-known autonomous school, Mr Tan Thiam Hock, its founding principal, handed out severe and stiff punishments to students caught smoking in the toilets. But what drove Thiam Hock was a deep concern for his students. Thiam Hock even hired an acupuncturist to treat students who wanted to quit their smoking addiction. In the book, we read that over 100 students voluntarily signed up for his “Quit Smoking” acupuncture programme. Thiam Hock recently retired after 24 years as a principal, but remains highly-regarded in the education fraternity today – as one of many examples of ‘the tough love’ in our schools that helps students turn around.

9. The third trait that I will highlight is a focus on growing and developing people, rather than on targeting results that are most visible or most easily measured. The best leaders in education are those who focus on developing their teachers and students. They give their teachers room to shape their own teaching. And look for ways to develop their students’ interest in learning, and ability to learn. But we also know that schools that focus on growing people do not fail. They are in fact successful schools, and are able to sustain success. Their success comes as a product of having excited students in their learning, and spurring them to go beyond themselves.

10. There are many examples again in our schools, of leaders who are unrelenting in their focus on development, rather than targeting results. Sing Wah also interviewed a Chinese school leader, Yang Rui Qing, principal of Xing Zhi Primary School in the outskirts of Nanjing. It is a rural school that is receiving recognition for its focus on developing children’s strengths. I visited Mr Yang’s school last month with a few school leaders, and am glad to see he is with us today. He explained to us the philosophy of “appreciation education” that guides his school. He described students who have succeeded as flowers that have already bloomed. Those that have not succeeded are only flowers that have yet to bloom. So how do we help these flowers bloom? He draws lessons from the farmers. To help the shoots grow, a farmer does not pull it up by its roots. He fertilises it, waters it, and makes sure it has room to grow, but he does not pull it up to make it taller.

Partnering the Media in Shaping Social Attitudes

11. Sing Wah’s second book – Commentaries on Singapore Education – is a collection of her published observations of issues within our education scene. Commenting on the evolution and challenges of education over the years, she has also contributed to the public’s perspectives on these issues.

12. Sing Wah’s work, and the commentaries and editorials of others in the media profession, are important in shaping the way the public views education. By commenting on newly rolled-out policies and initiatives, or expressing their views on issues that they feel need further attention, they stimulate reflection and discussion on education issues that touch us all.

13. For example, there has been public discussion recently about what being part of the “elite” or the “jing(1) ying(1)” meant. This is an area where thoughtful commentaries have helped in getting the public to rethink existing norms. I recall Sing Wah’s piece in April last year, urging readers to break away from the mindset that successful people only included those with good exam results. She pointed out, with heartfelt conviction, that every individual who is able to stretch his or her unique talents, and excel, counts as an “elite”.[1]

14. As we set out in education to increase the quality of learning opportunities for our students, such commentaries are helpful in pushing public awareness, of the need to grow each of our children’s unique strengths, varied as they are.

15. I am heartened to see the Singapore Press Holdings news teams establishing closer links and partnerships with MOE and schools – to expose our students to journalism, and at the same time to foster a better understanding of the goals and intents behind our educational efforts.

16. On that note, my heartiest congratulations to Sing Wah on the launch of her books.

[1] “Everyone is part of the elite” (Poon Sing Wah, ZB Commentary, 9/4/05, p16)