Speech by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Finance at Xingnan Primary School's 75th Anniversary Celebrations and Launch of the Xingnan Heritage Museum on Wednesday, 15 November 2005 at 4pm

SPEECH BY MR THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION & SECOND MINISTER FOR FINANCE AT XINGNAN PRIMARY SCHOOL’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS AND LAUNCH OF THE XINGNAN HERITAGE MUSEUM ON WEDNESDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 2006 AT 4PM

Mr Jimmy Tay, Chairman, School Advisory Committee

Mr Cheng Swee Guan, Chairman, Xingnan Primary School Alumni Association

Mdm Suraya, Chairman, Parents Support Group

Mr Gau Poh Teck, Principal, Xingnan Primary School

Distinguished Guests, Teachers, Parents and Pupils

1. It gives me great pleasure to be here at Xingnan Primary School’s 75th Anniversary celebrations. Today, we celebrate the achievement of yet another milestone in the history of the school, made possible by the hard work and combined effort of all staff and stakeholders.

2. Xingnan Primary School occupies a unique position among the schools in Jurong. Being a school with a long history that dates back to 1932, it has grown from a village school of 10 pupils to the modern, well-equipped school it is today with an enrolment of 1,800 pupils. Over the years, the school has made significant strides in its role of educating and nurturing the young in the Jurong area. With its tradition of being a Chinese medium school until 1979, the school has managed to retain its lead in the Chinese Language by continuously achieving a high standard of performance in the subject in the PSLE.

3. I am told that this can be attributed to the teachers’ hard work. I understand that they put much emphasis on creative writing. Pupils are given feedback on the strengths of their writing and areas for improvements are pointed out. The feedback allows the pupils to improve on their next piece of work. Good compositions by pupils are compiled into books to be shared with other pupils at the school and cluster level. This way, pupils are motivated to do better in the language. Pupils in Xingnan are also given added exposure to the Chinese Language through the many competitions that are organised in school as well as those organised by other schools and organisations. For example, in the 12th Annual On-the-Spot Composition Writing Competition organised by the Foo Chow Association and the Chinese Teachers' Union, Xingnan emerged as Champion in the ‘Category A’ competition. Activities like Chinese calligraphy writing, poetry recital and word games are included in the Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival Celebrations to make the learning of the language meaningful and fun.

4. It is in recognition of your leadership in the area of Chinese Language teaching and learning that the school has been identified for the role of being the Centre of Excellence for Chinese Language & Culture in the West 3 Cluster.

5. Besides Chinese Language, the school has also excelled in the area of the performing arts. In particular, the Concert Band has done well in the last few years. The Malay Dance Troupe, the Indian Dance Troupe, the Chinese Dance Troupe and the Rhythmic Dance Group have made good progress as well. The wide offering of CCAs by the school has indeed provided the pupils of Xingnan the opportunity to develop in a holistic manner. CCAs are an invaluable means through which pupils can pursue their passions, and where character and leadership development can be realised.

6. With 75 years of moulding young lives and their future, Xingnan looks forward to more exciting years. I am heartened to note that the school has begun efforts to ground its pupils in the history and tradition of the school through the introduction of the Xingnan Living Schoolbook and the setting up of the Xingnan Heritage Museum. The Xingnan Living Schoolbook, which I am told will be integrated into the Social and Emotional Learning curriculum from next year onwards, will help strengthen the pupils’ bonds with the community they grow up in. Hopefully, they will contribute to their community in the process. The Living Schoolbook will also impart important lifeskills and instil the right values in the pupils.

7. The Xingnan Heritage Museum, which is launched today, will support the learning of the history and culture of the school and Jurong. It will serve not just the pupils of Xingnan, but will also educate the residents of this area about the history of Jurong. Such a community orientation on the part of the school is laudable, and it underscores the growing role schools play in the life of the community in which it is situated.

8. I am also pleased to learn that Xingnan has made talent development a key feature in the brand of education that it is offering. Your diverse offerings in talent development include the tissue culture and orchid hybridisation programme, the broadcast journalism programme, and the digital art programme. These bear testimony to your commitment to help your pupils develop their different talents and actualise their potential, and thus contribute to realising our nation’s vision of achieving many peaks of excellence.

9. Teachers are the key to making all of these programmes work to achieve the outcomes desired. I am happy to note that the school recognises this fact and has placed priority on staff professional development to build the capacity of the teachers. With protected time created for professional sharing, your teachers are able to grow their skills and competencies, and work towards being part of a world class teaching force.

10. I would like to urge all Xingnanians to seize the many opportunities that the school is creating for you to learn and grow, so that you will uncover your talents and realise your potential. I challenge you to dream big and to live your lives such that each tomorrow finds you further ahead than today, and to leave your footprints in the sands of time for those who come after you.

11. I rejoice with you as you embark on the next lap of your journey. I am confident that Xingnan will rise yet higher with the concerted effort of all its stakeholders – the SAC, the Alumni Association, teachers, parents and pupils. It gives me great pleasure, therefore, to congratulate you on your achievements thus far, and to wish you all the best as you look forward to more exciting years ahead.