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SPEECH BY MR GAN KIM YONG, MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION & MINISTRY OF MANPOWER, AT THE LAUNCH OF MONTAGE! A CLUSTER WEST 6 SCHOOLS FESTIVAL OF ARTS ON FRIDAY, 14 JULY 2006, AT 6.30PM AT ZHENGHUA SQUARE.

Mrs Susan Chan,
Deputy Director/ Schools West,

Mrs Chia Ban Tin,
Superintendent Cluster West 6 Schools,

Principals and Vice-Principals of Cluster West 6 Schools,

Teachers,

Students and Parents,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1.      I am pleased to be here this evening at the launch of MONTAGE! A Cluster West 6 Schools Festival of Arts.

2.      MONTAGE! is a display of both performing art and visual art forms.  It aims to raise the level of awareness and appreciation of the arts. Our highly talented students are here at Zhenghua Square to showcase their creations and to reach out to the residents of Bukit Panjang by bringing the arts close to them.  For many of us present tonight, this event is even more meaningful as our children will be performing and participating in MONTAGE.

3.      A collaborative effort of the schools in Cluster West 6, MONTAGE! aims to create synergy amongst the participating schools as they strive to harness each other’s strength. Through MONTAGE! students are not only provided with a platform to showcase their talents, but also with an opportunity for character development as well as an opportunity to serve the community directly.

4.      The Cluster West 6 schools always seek to develop their students holistically and bring about an environment that enhances their discovery and learning.

5.      All the students are encouraged to have a keen spirit of experimentation so that when they begin to express their thoughts and perspectives in an art form, they are actually honing their cognitive and physical skills. Through imagination, students make new connections, transcend previous limitations and think out of the box. The creative thinking process will help prepare them to meet the many unexpected challenges in their lives.

6.      I am also glad that participation in MONTAGE! is not limited to only students who are artistically talented but include students from the other various disciplines as well.  This inclusive approach will certainly help our children appreciate the various art forms through personal first hand experience.

7.      I would like to commend Cluster West 6 schools for organizing this event which provides students with the opportunity to use the arts to extend their horizons beyond the boundaries of their schools to the community around them.

8.      Lastly, I would like to thank all of you for being here.