Good Expressions (Taken from MOE website Media Press) Bilingualism 1.

. English, as the common language of instruction, enables our students to plug into the globalised world, while learning mother tongue languages enables our students to have a sense of identity, and connect to our Asian cultural values and heritage. 2. Bilingualism and biculturalism strengthen and deepen our identity as an Asian society and connect us with our Asian heritage. 3. At the same time, these policies help expand our common space as a multiracial and multi-religious society, and grow our uniqueness as Singaporeans with a multi-cultural and global outlook. 4. Singapore as a cosmopolitan city that embraces multi-lingual and multicultural diversity is a key strength that we will do well to preserve. 5. It is fortuitous that even though the origin of our mother tongue policy was not motivated by its economic value, the economic dynamism of the Asian region has given an added impetus for the learning of mother tongues. We must make the best use of this opportunity. Importance of English 1. Political and economic realities led us to choose English as our working language. 2. English was our best choice - the language of international diplomacy, science and technology, and international finance and commerce after World War II. 3. As an English-speaking society, we have drawn foreign talent to our shores. There is an intense worldwide competition for talent, especially for English-speaking skilled professionals, managers and executives. Our English-speaking environment is one reason why Singapore has managed to attract a number of these talented individuals to complement our own talent pool. 4. English has given Singapore a head start vis--vis our neighbours; but this competitive edge is not permanent. Today, because competence in English is no longer just a competitive advantage, many countries are trying to teach their children English. It is a basic skill that many children want to acquire in the 21st century. 5. Principals must foster a culture in which good English permeates every classroom and every interaction between teachers and students. We must galvanise the whole school community to be role models of good English. Together, we must encourage our students to speak well, read widely and constantly to improve their English competency. Heritage Centre 1. The Ministry of Education (MOE) has established the MOE Heritage Centre to document Singapores education journey over the past five decades. The Centre aims to foster a sense of pride and belonging amongst the teaching fraternity and

to commemorate the contributions of past generations of educators and MOE officers. 2. The MOE Heritage Centre provides a platform to pass on the professional values and ethos distilled from the exemplary practices of past and present Singapore educators to present and future generations of teachers. Alternative Education Paths 1. Over the years, our education system has evolved to provide for a more holistic education as well as to create multiple pathways for success for students with different inclinations and abilities. 2. The School of the Arts, the Singapore Sports School and other similar institutes of learning help groom talents in specific domains. In tandem with these changes, SINDA has developed new categories of awards. I commend and thank SINDA for your initiative. Today, we celebrate excellence in the various fields in academic pursuits, in sports and in the arts. 3. Coupled with support from his mother and his aunt, Pravin always believed that he could achieve anything and everything, as long as he had faith in himself. True to that statement, Pravin will pursue his dreams studying at the National University of Singapore. Pravin is also a gifted writer, having written the awardwinning novel The African Girl, at the tender age of fifteen. It won international acclaim and clinched an award at the United States of America Best Books Awards in 2008. 4. Jeyavani believes that being an all-rounder goes beyond academic excellence. She believes strength of character comes from being involved in cocurricular activities. Innovation Awards 1. One characteristic of innovation which I am sure many of you would have realised by now is that good ideas rarely emerge from individual eureka moments. We tend to romanticise these momentous ideas, the big breakthroughs. However, good inventions are often built out of a collection of existing ideas big or small reassembled into useful new configurations. 2. In other words, innovation is a process of continuous improvement. Good inventions are rarely conjured out of thin air by one person. Ideas build on one another. They connect, fuse and recombine to form even better ideas. 3. Another important aspect of innovation is to take risks, make mistakes and learn from these mistakes. (Just a side note: this is called a triplet) Nobody likes to be wrong. However, errors force us to explore, to challenge our assumptions and adopt new strategies. More importantly, in a complex, ever-changing world, the process of trial and error is essential for solving problems. 4. Let me give you a more contemporary example. Google is one of the most innovative companies in the world today. 5. Ideas rise in crowds. They rise in open diverse networks where ideas can connect and recombine, where one persons hunch can build on another persons hunch, and generate new ideas. To innovate, we must learn to communicate and

network with one another, to collaborate in cross-disciplinary teams, and to open our minds to the many connected environments that make creativity possible. 6. We must have determination and resilience in the face of setbacks, which are sure to come along on the innovation journey. Physical Education 1. The Ministry of Education is encouraged by the recent letters in the Straits Times on PE as it indicates that the community continues to place a high premium on PE and its pivotal role in the overall development of our students. 2. The daily PE and sports activities develop healthy, happy, and confident children who are mentally alert and can work in teams. The benefits are physical, social and emotional. Teachers and parents have noted that the qualities learnt in PE such as focus and resilience, have been applied in other aspects of the students lives. 3. They believed that values and attitudes such as resilience, perseverance, fair play, teamwork and sacrifice were both life changing and of lifelong value to the students. 4. The clarion call to collaborate and serve at PESTA has already created ripples of excitement and anticipation amongst the PE teachers. Each of the 28 clusters has nominated a HOD to work with PESTA. These PESTA Champions will help develop and propagate innovative strategies for the teaching of PE. 5. At the core of all our education programmes are the students. They inspire us to review, revise and revamp the learning opportunities provided to them. PESTA will perform a critical role in raising the standard of professional competency of all PE and Sports teachers in our schools. This would, in turn, enable our students to have quality PE lessons and sports activities. PESTA has also demonstrated its capability to harness the energies and expertise of different sports groups to enhance sports opportunities for our students. National Unity 1. This indomitable spirit and our sense of unity are important themes in the Singapore Story a story that is being written by each and every one of us as we live out our lives in this place we call home. Strengthening the Singapore Spirit 2. Our schools provide a common space for teachers and students, despite their different backgrounds, to build the Singaporean identity collectively around common values and common experiences. 3. Leveraging on our shared memories and joint hopes of tomorrow, we will be able to build a resilient and united Singapore. 4. These hopes and memories are the pillars of Racial Harmony because they inspire us to continue forging a common identity and build upon experiences which bring us together. This deepens our mutual understanding and enables us to build rapport with our friends and neighbours in the community. 5. Through the cultivation of goodwill, fellowship and sympathy, we will benefit as a nation by building up our social capital amongst all who make up our community.

The Arts 1. Safe but boring was once a favourite label for Singapore. In 2000, at the turn of the 21st century, Singapore made a deliberate decision to change its image and transform itself into a vibrant place for work-live-and-play. A Renaissance City Plan was conceptualized to enable Singapore to become a global arts city with strong inter-cultural bonds and a distinct national identity. Today, a decade later, there have indeed been dramatic changes in our skyline and there is a vast array of arts and cultural activities. This year, London-based magazine, Monocle, ranks Singapore as 15th most liveable city in the world. Singapore is now perceived as exciting, creative and buzzing with opportunities for living it up and creative work. 2. Through the rigorous training and opportunities to interact with practicing artists from the creative industry, Art Elective Programme students are well poised to take on significant roles in the arts industry and contribute towards Singapores continued transformation into a global city for the arts. 3. This years Art Elective Programme Exhibition will showcase 30 artworks. The theme, Between Worlds, offers art as a means to explore the uncharted and a platform to re-imagine the world. 4. The AEP students will be conducting guided tours of the exhibition for primary school students to ignite in them the love for art. The AEP teachers will hold discussions on teaching approaches for the learning art in and outside the classroom. The AEP alumni will also weigh in by speaking on the value of an art education and the impact it has on their careers. 5. Art and music are expressions of a society, reflecting the peoples emotions, struggles, joys, hopes and aspirations. Art and music can be harnessed to create shared experiences and foster shared identity. Through art and music, students learn to be expressive, imaginative, creative and culturally sensitive. Youths as Leaders 1. Students who have been involved in and have been nurtured by the NYAA programme have made us proud over the years. They have gone on to become exemplary leaders with a deep sense of social responsibility and passion for helping the community. 2. I would also like to congratulate the Principal of Pasir Ris Crest Secondary, Mrs Woo Soo Min, and the teachers of the school for their dedication and tireless efforts in developing their students in partnership with the NYAA. To the parents, I commend you for supporting your children as they strive to become self-reliant, socially conscious and responsible youths. Education in general 1. Fundamentally, our schools must be anchored in the strong foundation of a good holistic education for our students. This includes imparting to our students the right values and skills, helping them build strong academic foundations, and developing in them essential competencies for the 21st century. This is not something that can be accomplished in short order. It takes the hard work, dedication and vision of the school leader and his or her team of teachers and staff, over several years, to bear fruit.

2. The twin focus on the academic studies and CCAs has contributed to the allround development of the girls in the school, as well as honed important 21st century competencies, such as resilience, self-discipline, confidence and leadership skills, in them. 3. A culture of excellence, in which everyone puts in their best effort, is pervasive in the school. I trust that it is this team of dedicated staff, together with the continuous pursuit of excellence that will fuel the school on to her next phase of development. 4. This programme has allowed the students to experience working life and inducted them into the norms and expectations of the working world. I am sure that the invaluable experiences gained from these industrial attachments will aid the students well as they integrate into society.