Singapore Government Press Release

Media Division, Ministry of Information & The Arts, #36-00, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963, Tel: 3757794/5

SPEECH BY MR WONG KAN SENG, MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR THOMSON GROUP REPRESENTATION CONSTITUENCY AT THE BISHAN EAST PAP COMMUNITY FOUNDATION KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION CEREMONY ON SATURDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 1996 AT 10.00 AM AT THE BISHAN EAST COMMUNITY HALL

Chairman and Members of the Executive Committee of the PAP Community Foundation Bishan East Branch

Grassroots Leaders

Teachers and Parents

I am happy to be with you this morning to celebrate the PAP Community Foundation (PCF) Bishan East Kindergarten Graduation.

Since the 1960s, the PAP has been providing kindergarten service. Today, the PCF is the largest provider of pre-school education in Singapore. It runs 288 conveniently located kindergartens with about 79,000 children. To ensure quality education for our children, the PCF has been regularly reviewing and improving its educational programme.

The Bishan East PCF branch set up its first kindergarten at Block 197 in 1988. Since then, three more centres have been opened to cater to the growing demand from many young families living here. The four centres are equipped with audio-visual aids to help the children in the learning process. Two of the centres are also equipped with computer-aided learning facilities. With their all-round development programme, the Bishan East PCF Centres are providing a quality pre-school service.

I commend the Executive Committee Members and teachers of the PCF Bishan East Branch for their dedication and success in expanding and improving the quality of pre-school service in Bishan East.

Besides pre-school education, with the help of our community leaders, I have also set up a Community Children's Library, a Cybercafe, and provided Before and After School Care Service for our students. Bishan residents now have access to a wide range of services specially for their children.

The Government invests heavily in education because an educated population is crucial in sustaining our progress. The Government will ensure that every child has access to good education so that he can realise his full potential.

In the pre-school, the principal and teacher play a crucial role in helping the children build a sound foundation for formal schooling. Through a wide range of activities, the children acquire knowledge and develop problem-solving skills that will benefit them in later years.

Parents also play a very important role in the child's development. In fact, parents are the young child's first teachers and the home his first classroom. Studies have shown that children who grow up with good home support perform better in school.

I urge the parents to spend more quality time with their children. Build a healthy and positive relationship with them. Provide them with a conducive home environment that will motivate them to learn and do well in school. With good education, they will have a bright future.

On this note, I congratulate the parents of our 433 kindergarten graduates and thank them for their support and confidence in the PCF Kindergarten Service.