Speeches
Speech by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Finance and Minster for Education, at the Singapore Vehicle Traders Association’s Chinese New Year Gathering Cum Scholarship/ Bursary Award, on Saturday, 16 February 2008, 6.45pm, at the Chinese Swimming Club
Mr Neo Nam Heng, President of Singapore Vehicle Traders Association
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Award recipients
A very good evening to all.
It gives me great pleasure to be here this evening, as you gather to celebrate Chinese New Year. This Chinese New Year is especially meaningful for the award recipients here with us tonight, as they receive their scholarship or bursary awards.
Our education system provides opportunities for all students regardless of their backgrounds to go as far as possible. We are developing diverse talents in our students, and helping every student to maximise his potential. We have also been strengthening the financial assistance schemes that we provide children from lower income backgrounds, so as to encourage them to put full effort into their school and tertiary education without having to worry about whether their families can support them. Yesterday, in the Budget for 2008, we extended further support for our university and polytechnic students, to ensure that both lower and middle-income students are able to pursue their studies without worrying about finances.
While the Government plays a key role in levelling educational opportunities for all, it is by no means the only helping hand extended to students who need financial assistance. Schools, grassroots and community organisations, commercial organisations, as well as generous individuals and estates, do their part to help.
The Singapore Vehicle Traders Association (SVTA) is one such organisation that has been doing its part in helping financially disadvantaged students. SVTA has been giving out scholarships and bursary awards since 1993, with the objective of helping financially needy students, and to encourage students to perform well. For 2007, a total of 77 students received the awards, amounting to more than $46,000.
For these 77 students, the awards will serve to remind them that they are not alone on their educational journey, and that help and encouragement are rendered not just by their schools, but also by others like SVTA. One of the proud recipients today is 9 year-old Siti Amirah Binte Abdul Samad, from Telok Kurau Primary. Described by her teacher as a self-motivated learner who sets high personal goals, Siti Amirah understands the value of rendering help to those who need it. Her teacher notes that she never hesitates to help her friends when the occasion calls for it. 14-year old Shaun Lim Han Shern from Nan Chiau High School is another award recipient who has exemplified this spirit of lending a helping hand to his peers.
Like these award recipients, organisations like SVTA, in extending a helping hand to our students, show them that the community as a whole will do its part to help them excel in school. I would like to take this opportunity to thank these many helping hands.
For the award recipients tonight, congratulations. I wish you success in your pursuits and also encourage you to give back to society, when the time is right, so that others who come after you will also be helped in their pursuits. Thank you and have an enjoyable evening.