Speeches
Speech by Mr Masagos Zulkifli BMM, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Home Affairs, at the Launch of the MOE Junior Sports Academies 2009 on Monday, 6 April 2009, at 4.00pm, at Yio Chu Kang Primary school
Mr Teo Ser Luck Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports, and Transport.
Miss Sum Chee Wah Director, Education Programmes
Distinguished guests,
Principals, Teachers,
Parents and students,
Introduction
I am pleased to be here today to launch the MOE Junior Sports Academies 2009.
At the Teachers’ Day Rally on 31 August 2006, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong articulated the vision that Singapore’s education should have “Many Peaks of Excellence” to allow all students to realise their potential. Talent development in sports is in line with this vision. It is also in line with Singapore’s vision of being one of the top ten sporting nations in Asia by 2010.
It is with these in mind that MOE developed the Talent Development Framework for Sports in 2007. This Framework aims to systematically identify and provide talented athletes in our schools with opportunities for development. One of the key strategies within the Framework is the setting up of Junior Sports Academies (JSAs) for primary school students.
Discover and Nurture our Talents
In this regard, MOE, in collaboration with the relevant National Sports Associations, set up four JSAs last year. They are housed in Henry Park Primary, Chung Cheng High Main, Singapore Sports School and Singapore Table Tennis Association. Since the beginning of 2008, regular training sessions have been conducted. Feedback from parents indicated that they were pleased with the professionalism of the coaches and the opportunities provided for their children to interact and be trained with the better athletes from other schools.
A case in point is Mr Steven Ng, who is happy that his daughter Sheryl is in the JSA at Chung Cheng High Main for wushu. He found the training at the JSA systematic and structured, and the coaches professional and nurturing. Sheryl looks forward to the trainings and Mr Ng has seen improvements in skills and attitude in her.
Besides attending the regular training sessions conducted by the JSAs, the student athletes have also participated in sports carnivals, character building workshops and sports science clinics to develop and improve team spirit and raise their awareness of sports science.
The student athletes from the JSAs have also participated in overseas training stints, to learn from other coaches and their peers. For example, towards the end of last year, student athletes from the JSA at Henry Park Primary participated in an overseas badminton training stint in China. They trained at Longyang Shanghang Junior Sports School where Lin Dan, the current Olympic badminton men’s singles champion from China spent his formative years honing his badminton skills. The stint not only improved their skills, but also gave them a first-hand experience of conditions under which some champions had to train and offered many lessons on life skills. On seeing the spartan conditions that Lin Dan had trained under, the students came to understand the value of hard work, perseverance and sacrifice in achieving success. One participant, Deline Quek of Henry Park Primary, reflected that she picked up three important lessons: learning to be more independent, treasuring what she has, and giving her best in the pursuit of success.
Besides the various development programmes at the JSAs, the student athletes will continue to be given exposure to other sports within their usual school curriculum and individual schools’ enrichment programmes.
Given the positive feedback from parents and participants, MOE has decided to set up more JSAs catering to a wider range of sports over the next few years. This year, MOE is setting up eight JSAs in our schools to develop student athletes in seven sporting areas in table tennis, wushu, football, swimming, badminton, fencing and shooting
These JSAs have been selected based on their achievement track records, sporting culture and management support. I am confident they will provide selected students with more exposure to sports and allow more talents to be systematically developed.
Pursue and Live our Dreams
To the student athletes here today, I urge you to be engaged fully in your training, and to pursue your dreams with courage. Many champions started their training when they were at your age. The road to success will not be easy. Along the way, you will experience setbacks and disappointments. However, don’t be afraid to dream big as you embark on this new journey with the JSA. Triumph lies in having the courage to try and being the best that you can be.
Singapore’s football legend Fandi Ahmad had a dream when he was young. He pursued his dream and trained hard. At age 16, Fandi became the youngest player ever to play for the Singapore national team. He went on to play for FC Groningen in Netherlands and left his mark as a respected athlete.
Likewise, Etienne Lee had a bold dream, “To represent Singapore and do Singapore proud at the international stage.” After years of training, his dream came true in December 2008 at Bali. He represented Singapore and competed in the 2nd World Junior Wushu Championship. He won a Silver medal. Etienne, who is now with the National Youth Team, is one of the first batch of JSA student athletes at Chung Cheng High Main. He is here with us today and will be sharing his experience later.
Even as I recognize that training in JSA is more intense and requires discipline, I also would like to remind students, their coaches and their parents that they must not forget the need for them to have balance in life as youths — there are also other sports and activities in schools they should participate in and enjoy time growing up as youths. Bring up coping problems if you have them. Don’t forget to enjoy life too.
As I launch the Junior Sports Academies today, I would like to leave you with this quote from Paulo Coelho, Brazilian lyricist and novelist. I quote. “The world lies in the hands of those who have the courage to dream and who take the risk of living out their dreams — each according to his or her own talent.” Unquote. I therefore urge all young athletes to dream, and have the courage and perseverance to live out their dreams.
Thank you.