28 February 1998

SPEECH BY RADM (NS) TEO CHEE HEAN, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, AT THE LAUNCH OF "LEARNING JOURNEYS" AT ST. ANDREW'S JUNIOR COLLEGE ON 28 FEBRUARY 1998 AT 0900 HOURS

1. Our mission as educators is to nurture our children so that they grow up to be well-rounded individuals, strong in body, mind and spirit, well prepared for the future, and committed to Singapore. Such an education cannot be based on a successful academic programme alone. It has to incorporate activities outside the classroom, for these link experience with theory and inject life and meaning to what is taught in class. The concept, "Learning Journeys" is to emphasise that every trip out of the school is an important learning experience, essential and integral to the educational process and not a one-off event. A learning journey, well conceived and carefully planned, can maximise the learning experience for our children. They can make an impact in shaping the lifelong interests of a child, and start him on the road to lifelong learning on a subject which captures his imagination, fascinates him.

"Learning Journeys in National Education"

2. It is in this context that we are launching "Learning Journeys" today, more specifically "Learning Journeys in National Education". Our children are already going on school excursions, which include heritage tours, eco-tours to nature parks, visits to companies and factories, and overseas field trips. The "Learning Journeys in National Education" are student visits to our national institutions and public installations. But they are not just about finding out Singapore's past although many of the places they visit are important markers of the journey our nation has taken.

3. The main objective of these Learning Journeys is for our children to understand what makes Singapore tick, to understand why we are where we are today. They illustrate our vision and planning and reflect our society's character. Our children must learn about them, understand their significance, and think about the part that they themselves can play to ensure that in our journey into the future Singapore continues to stay strong as a nation and to make progress.

4. The objectives we have are important ones and all students will go on such Learning Journeys. They are a core complement to the formal curriculum and not an optional extra. They will complement what is taught in subjects such as Social Studies, History and Geography. They are not confined to National Education alone; our children will get a learning experience that is also relevant to other subjects in their curriculum. For instance, a visit to the Jurong Town Corporation is not only a lesson on industrialisation and how we overcame our constraints but also an instructive geography lesson on land use. A visit to the waterworks not only brings home the point that Singapore must find ways to deal with its limitations but is also a lesson in Science.

5. Singapore's future will be determined by the efforts and the commitment of our people. But the task of ensuring that our young grow up to be patriotic and hardworking, with the education and training to contribute to Singapore's further progress, cannot be achieved by the Ministry of Education alone. The community has a crucial role to play and must share the national responsibility of nurturing our young.

6. The 20 organisations which have agreed to participate in this first phase of the Learning Journeys programme recognise that they can play such a role. Each of these organisations plays a major role in Singapore's development. This launch would not have been possible without their cooperation and support. They include not just government ministries, statutory boards and government-linked companies, but also private sector companies. Each of these institutions has appointed officers to conceptualise and conduct the visits.

7. I would like to express the appreciation of the Ministry of Education for the effort and resources they are putting in to support the Learning Journeys in National Education. For instance, the previews that we are getting today - a tour of PSA's Container Terminals and a tour of the harbour - are sponsored by PSA Corporation and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore respectively. The PSA and MPA are also sponsoring the tours for the students in their Learning Journeys. Such involvement and commitment to the education of our young is praiseworthy and I would like to extend an invitation to other organisations which feel that they can contribute to embark on this programme with us.

8. The Ministry of Education also recognises the very important role which parents play in the education of our children. We would therefore like to encourage parents to come and play a part in these Learning Journeys as well. They can help to chaperone the children on such excursions. The Ministry of Education has changed its rules on parent-volunteers accompanying school excursions to welcome the involvement of parents.

9. I hope that the Learning Journeys will enable our children to learn things that interest and excite them; that they will be a significant part of the total education which develops our children to become the well-rounded persons we want them to be. And that along the way they will also gain an understanding and a passion for our nation that will ensure Singapore's survival and success.