Speech by Mr Masagos Zulkifli BMM, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education, at Self-Help Groups' Joint Tuition Awards Ceremony on Saturday, 20 October 2007, at 4.00 pm at MDIS Unicampus Samtas Hall

SPEECH BY MR MASAGOS ZULKIFLI BMM, SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, AT SELF-HELP GROUPS’ JOINT TUITION AWARDS CEREMONY ON SATURDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2007, AT 4.00 PM AT MDIS UNICAMPUS SAMTAS HALL

Mr Sam Tan
Executive Director, CDAC (Chinese Development Assistance Council)

Mr S Manogaran
Chief Executive Officer, SINDA (Singapore Indian Development Association)

1. The Self-Help Group’s Joint Tuition Awards Ceremony was started in 2004. It was a milestone as they came together for the first time to recognise students from their tuition programmes for doing well in the PSLE, N levels and O Level examinations. This is the fourth year the Self-Help Group’s Joint Tuition Awards Ceremony is held. Not only is this a reflection of the progress that Self-Help Groups have made within their communities, it also shows the inter-group synergy and healthy relationships that the groups have built with each other over the years.

2. Since inception, the four Self-Help Groups have correctly identified education as a cornerstone of their programmes to help disadvantaged families break out of the poverty cycle and level up. We recognise the Self-Help Groups’ contribution in ensuring that students from low-income families are not left behind as Singapore continues to progress at a rapid pace.

3. The four Self-Help Groups run tuition classes in 138 primary and secondary schools around the island this year. Nearly 25,000 students attend their tuition programmes every year. MOE is committed to collaborating with the Self-Help Groups in areas where students’ life can be enriched beyond school hours and the school compound, so that the needs of students-at-risk can be addressed.

4. I am pleased to note that the quality of their tuition programmes has improved over the years, keeping pace with the evolving educational landscape. In fact, by pooling their resources since 2004, the Self-Help Groups have been able to reach out to students in more effective ways. As a signature of our multi-racial society, each Self-Help Group has opened their tuition programmes to students of all races.

5. While we recognise that there are issues that are best addressed by Self-Help Groups for each ethnic group due to language and cultural differences, collaboration among the Self-Help Groups is very important. On a practical level, it ensures more effective management of resources. More importantly, through their joint activities, programmes and exchanges, the Self-Help Groups have created more opportunities for interaction and bonding among our communities and among the Self-Help Groups themselves. Their efforts are key to building a stronger and more cohesive Singapore, by facilitating greater understanding amongst the ethnic groups.

Award Recipients
6. Today, more than 330 students will receive the Self Help Groups’ Joint Tuition Awards. This is a great increase from the 179 last year. Many of these students come from humble family backgrounds. Despite their financial constraints, they have passed their examinations with flying colours and have done themselves, their families and communities proud. Let me highlight some of these students who have become shining examples for others.

7. The Eurasian Association’s Patrick Anthony Nair suffers from dyslexia and because of that he found himself falling behind in his class. His perseverance, together with help from tuition, and from his brothers pulled him through PSLE. His older brother received an excellence award at this year’s Eurasian Community Fund Education Awards earlier.

8. Lin You Shen has been nominated for the Student Achievement Award for Mathematics and is awarded the Best Overall Performance Award for ‘N’ level. You Shen has been attending CDAC’s tuition classes for the past eight years since he was in Primary 4. Even though he is in the Normal Academic stream, he took elementary mathematics at ‘O’ levels and scored an incredible A1. He hopes to become a teacher or join the aerospace or engineering industry.

9. Shifaya Nasrine Mohamed is SINDA’s top student in the PSLE exams. When she was in Primary 5, she scored Ds for English and Math. However, she managed to turn those Ds into Bs in the PSLE after attending SINDA’s STEP Reading programme for two years. She is currently studying at Bendemeer Secondary 1 in the Express course.

10. Nur Azuriati Bte Azhar also showed remarkable improvement in Mathematics and Combined Science after attending tuition classes at Mendaki. She improved by 6 grades for both Mathematics and Combined Science, scoring an A2 for Mathematics and A1 for Combined Science in the GCE ‘O’ Level exam. She is now in Serangoon Junior College and hopes to become a teacher.

11. These four children are not the only ones I wish to congratulate today. Like them, all award recipients today have displayed determination and drive that enabled them to do extremely well. The can-do spirit is what we want to cultivate in all our young, but more importantly, in those who can provide their families with solutions to their problems by persevering in their pursuit of education. I take this opportunity to commend every award recipient present today for a job well done. I am sure your stories will inspire many around you.