Introduction
1. Good afternoon, everyone. It is my pleasure to join you here today to celebrate the achievements of our students.
2. Today, we celebrate not only academic success, but also the determination, resilience and hard work of our students. And we also celebrate the community of parents, teachers and mentors behind every success – people who have believed in and supported every student, every step of the way.
3. My deep appreciation goes out to our Self-Help Groups (SHGs) – the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC), the Eurasian Association (EA), the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) and Yayasan MENDAKI for supporting and believing in our students. They have had an unwavering commitment to helping, uplifting, nurturing and supporting our communities – helping our students overcome many challenges, seize opportunities, and realise their full potential.
4. Together, they demonstrate the 'We First' society – a society that we aspire to build – one where we look out for one another, support those in need and ensure that every student can succeed, regardless of their starting point in life.
Role of SHGs
5. Our SHGs complement our schools' efforts in helping students to learn and grow. One example is the Collaborative Tuition Programme (CTP). This is a strong partnership among the SHGs, with the government agencies and community partners providing subsidised tuition for students of all races, especially those from lower-income families.
6. Since the launch of the programme in 2002, it has grown from 11 to 232 centres, benefitting close to 20,000 students.
7. Helping our students is more than just about their academics. Through initiatives such as the Unity Cup, an annual football tournament organised by our SHGs, and common spaces in SHG Centres like Vibrance @ Yishun, our SHGs create opportunities for young people to develop confidence, forge cross-community friendships and build for themselves life skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.
Award Recipients
8. The real impact of these efforts is not just in the number of programmes, but the lives that they have touched. This year, we recognise 1,417 students across two award sessions.
9. Over the past few years, the number of award recipients has consistently remained strong, reflecting steady student progress and sustained support from our SHGs.
10. It also reflects the unwavering support of parents, educators, community organisations and partners, reminding us that when we come together to invest in our young people, every success that they have becomes a shared one.
11. Let me share a few examples of how strong community support brings about shared success. These are examples that highlight the life stories, issues and challenges of our students across our communities.
12. Melvin Elliot, from the Yishun Secondary STEP Centre faced a difficult period when his father's health deteriorated. Despite this, Melvin stayed resilient and stepped up at home to care for his younger brothers while his father received treatment. Melvin was able to focus on improving in the subjects he struggled with – Additional Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics – and with the support of his family and guidance from SINDA instructors, he achieved a six-grade improvement in all three subjects for his 'O' levels. Today, he pursues his studies at Millennia Institute with aspirations for a future in aerospace.
13. Hendra Putra, a Normal Technical student from the MENDAKI Achievement Programme (MAP), overcame challenges with his dyslexia and made significant improvements in Mathematics and Science. He now pursues his passion for STEM, studying Rapid Transit Engineering at ITE College West. I hope that in future, he will go on to pursue a career in this exciting engineering field.
14. Lim Hui En attended CDAC's tuition programme since primary school. With continued guidance from her tutors, she worked hard to attain significant improvements in both Chinese and Science at her N-Levels. She now studies Accounting at ITE College West and hopes to become an accountant.
15. Ryan Tunbridge was supported by the Eurasian Association's tuition programme and made noteworthy improvement in his PSLE results. He now gives back as a volunteer through their kidsREAD Junior Young Volunteer programme, supporting younger children in their learning.
16. Congratulations and well done Melvin, Hendra, Hui En and Ryan!
Helping Our Students Prepare For the Future Looking Ahead
17. The stories of these four young people remind us that it is about the courage to try, the determination to improve, the resilience to keep moving forward, and the willingness to give back and uplift others along the way.
18. As you look ahead, the world around us will continue to change. Advances in AI are transforming how we learn, work and solve problems. New opportunities will emerge, and many of the careers that our students will embark on may not even exist today.
19. That is why academic knowledge alone will not be enough. We will need the academic knowledge and hard work, but we will also need qualities like curiosity, adaptability and the willingness to learn. Together with academic knowledge, these values will carry us further.
20. Our SHGs are helping our students prepare for this future. Initiatives such as the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) 'RoboRoarZ' robotics competition and the use of AI-powered teaching tools help students build digital confidence, explore new technology, and develop skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
Closing
21. Today's award ceremony is another milestone in the education journey of our students. Please continue to stay curious and embrace new opportunities. As you progress, remember those who supported you – your family, friends and the community. When the opportunity comes, and it will come – because you are curious, adaptable, willing to learn and you apply yourself seriously to the challenges before you – pay it forward to help the community. Come and get involved in our community organisations and SHGs, learn from the mentors and role models you benefited from, and pay it forward by encouraging and uplifting others and the people around you.
22. To our parents, teachers, and all the community leaders in our SHGs, thank you for the steadfast partnership in nurturing and empowering our young people. The achievements we celebrate today are a reminder of what happens when the community comes together with a shared purpose.
23. Let us continue to work together to build a Singapore where every young person, regardless of their starting point, has the confidence, opportunities, and support to realise their full potential and contribute meaningfully to our shared future together.
24. Thank you.