ADDRESS BY MR HAWAZI DAIPI, SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, AT THE 59th ANNIVERSARY DINNER OF THE SINGAPORE TEACHERS’ UNION AT ORCHARD PARADE HOTEL ON THURSDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2005, AT 8.00 PM

Mr Heng Chee How, Minister of State, Ministry of National Development; Mayor of Central Singapore District & STU Advisor

It gives me great pleasure to celebrate the 59th anniversary of the Singapore Teachers’ Union with all of you this evening.

2 It is evident from Mike’s address that the STU has been very busy the past year, organising a myriad of activities which include workshops and camps for its members.

3 I understand that the STU, through its co-operative, EDUCARE, has gone beyond our shores to serve as a consultant for school development projects in India and Indonesia, and to bring in teachers from overseas to train in Singapore. I was also told that the Kagan workshops that it organises have attracted teachers from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. The opportunities for interaction between local and foreign teachers have indeed provided an enriching experience for the participants as they share their knowledge and experiences, as well as learn from educational experts.

4 Recently, MOE announced a slew of initiatives to give teachers and school leaders more time, space and support so that they can focus on improving the quality of interaction between teachers and students further. This lends greater support to the “Teach Less, Learn More” approach, which calls on educators to teach better to engage and prepare our students for life. An open and sharing culture will also be promoted within the schools and across the entire education community.

5 With the diverse and complex mix of learner profiles, and the needs, aspirations and expectations of our students, parents, teachers and industry leaders, greater customisation of educational initiatives will be necessary. Which is why the “Teach Less, Learn More” effort must be classroom-based, teacher-owned and school-driven, with MOE providing support for school-based initiatives.

6 I would thus like to encourage teachers to continue attending professional development courses and workshops so as to gain new pedagogical ideas and learn from one another, and in the process, be better able to interest and engage our learners and prepare them for life. So, teacher-members of STU, take advantage of STU’s activities, especially its professional development workshops and conferences.

7 It is heartening to know that the STU is committed to building the professional capacity of our teachers, for it is through better competencies that teachers can bring about an even higher quality of teaching and learning in our schools.

8 While professional upgrading is one way to raise the competencies of teachers, MOE and STU also recognise the need to ease teachers’ workload so that teachers can engage in reflective practices and introduce innovative pedagogy in their classrooms. MOE is committed to reducing teachers’ workload. Apart from recruiting and deploying more teachers to schools, MOE will also provide additional grants to schools to engage support staff. I would thus like to commend the STU for introducing the teacher-assistants’ scheme which taps this manpower grant. Teacher-assistants have been invaluable in easing the non-teaching workload of teachers, and I am happy to note that there will be another 34 teacher-assistants after they receive their certificates this evening.

9 We will also be honouring some teachers and principals for their contributions to STU’s Special Tutorial and Enrichment Programme, or “STEP” for short, over the years. STEP was started in 1980 by STU to provide quality tutorial programme at affordable fees in the primary schools and to serve as a moderator of the private tuition market that was mushrooming then with the introduction of streaming. Over the years, STEP has gained popularity and has proven to be useful. I am glad to see such positive collaboration between STU and the schools. I was informed that from next year, STEP will be re-named “STaR” – “School-based Tutorial and Revision” - to reflect more accurately the focus of the programme. I wish the STU all the best with STaR.

10 From my conversations with STU leaders, I gather that they will be much busier next year as STU celebrates its 60th anniversary. There will be many more activities, conferences and workshops lined up for the year. I am certain that STU will continue to do a good job in serving the needs of its members and the teaching profession as it has done the past six decades.

11 Congratulations to the STU on its 59th anniversary, and to the STEP Long Service Award winners and the teacher-assistants who will be receiving their certificates tonight.