) or https:// as an added precaution.Mr Ng Cher Pong, Chief Executive Officer, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)
Professor Susanna Leong, Deputy President, Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
Mr Ben King, Managing Director, Google
Students, Principals, Teachers, Parents,
Good afternoon to all.
1 I am glad to join you at the National Youth Tech Championship (NYTC) Grand Finals and Award Ceremony. It is very encouraging to see our students not just learning about Artificial Intelligence, or AI, but more importantly, working in teams to build, create and solve problems with it. I am sure you find the challenge not just in the coding and instruction of the robot and its deployment, but also in working together and thriving by bringing your strengths together.
2 Since its launch in 2023, the Championship has grown into Singapore's largest AI competition for young people, with school participation up by 30%. It is open, I am told, to both experienced as well as beginner coders. More than half of this year's Top 24 finalists are first-time participants, up from one-third last year. I want to congratulate all our finalists for making it this far – big round of applause to all of you!
Preparing Students for a Digital Future
3 The energy and creativity at today's Championship reflect the rapid technological advances around us. You are not just digital natives, you are AI natives of this generation. AI and robotics now have abilities that seemed totally unimaginable just a few years ago. They are opening new opportunities, they are reshaping whole industries and economies, and they are changing and will continue to change how we work, live and play. Countries and companies alike are all racing to strengthen their edge in AI.
4 And for Singapore to succeed, we must harness these technologies and move decisively. That is why we are bringing partners together — government agencies, tech companies, employers, our unions and educational institutions and schools — to work together closely and with one another.
5 At the heart of this would be our people, and Singapore has come this far because of our people. Workers will need practical AI skills, from basic AI literacy to advanced abilities such as creating new AI solutions. Just as importantly, we will need strong fundamentals: deep domain knowledge, the resilience and perseverance to adapt, and most importantly the judgement to use technology wisely.
6 This preparation must begin early. We want our students to have the knowledge, skills and confidence to thrive in this new world, and to make the most of technology.
- For example, we have a '4 Learns' framework which guides how we prepare students for an AI-impacted world. We want to learn about AI, learn how to use AI, learn with AI with appropriate guardrails, and most importantly, learn beyond AI — so that we remain masters of technology.
7 We are also helping our students build strong fundamentals by introducing computational thinking and digital skills across schooling levels, in a responsible and safe way.
- Now I know that many of our students here started with Code for Fun, jointly developed by MOE and IMDA for upper primary students. It covers coding, computational thinking and an introduction to AI. This complements Cyber Wellness lessons in CCE and self-paced modules on the SLS, building AI literacy and digital readiness from a young age.
- And in secondary school, these opportunities continue through structured learning experiences and programmes such as the Applied Learning Programme (ALP). They seek to deepen your AI literacy, help you develop more advanced technological skills, and prepare you for life and the future workplace.
- Since last year, we have also offered optional AI for Fun modules. More than half of our primary and secondary schools have come on board. This gives us confidence to go even further. So, an updated Code for Fun programme will be available to all our schools come next year.
8 To our students, I encourage you to embrace AI as a tool for learning. Use it to deepen your understanding, widen your perspectives and enable you to ask even better questions. But do not let AI do the thinking for you, or to spoon-feed you with answers. In fact, that will weaken your learning. Instead, use this technology to sharpen your thinking, spark your creativity, and test whether you have truly understood a concept.
- As you do so, remember that AI is not infallible. It can make mistakes, reflect biases, or give incomplete or even inaccurate answers.
- So importantly, stay curious. Ask questions incessantly. Verify information that you come across or use. And keep thinking critically, and we heard that from one of the students in the video. The future belongs to those who can use technology well, and combine it with creativity, empathy and human wisdom.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
9 As students, you should also have opportunities to pursue your passion for technology beyond our classroom through CCA, such as the Infocomm Media Club, complemented by competitions like this Championship for club members. I am appreciative to IMDA for providing free robotics kits for every team and 42 hours of training in AI and coding, to increase the Championship's accessibility. I also want to thank Google for being such a longstanding technology partner with IMDA and with all our schools.
10 Such experiences help students learn technical skills and develop more holistically. Through the Championship, you learn about robotics, Python programming, and AI subfields such as machine learning, computer vision and generative AI. You also develop important competencies such as critical and adaptive thinking, communication and teamwork, and collaboration. One team that demonstrated this is Xinmin Secondary School. You have built a strong culture of mentorship and collaboration. Three team members from last year returned to guide the next generation, passing on their knowledge and experience while embracing new challenges. What I've said for Xinmin applies in different ways for different schools, and I like to see this human spirit and fighting spirit as you use technology.
Conclusion
11 The Championship is an excellent platform to nurture young technology talent. My thanks to IMDA, Google, SIT and all our partners for organising this meaningful event.
12 Once again, congratulations to all our winning teams, and to all our participants — well done. I hope you have enjoyed the journey, built new friendships and strengthened old ones. Keep honing your digital skills, and I look forward to the exciting things you will do together in the years ahead.
13 Congratulations once again, and thank you.