Singapore Government Press Release
Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts
36th Storey, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963.
Tel: 3757794/5
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SPEECH BY DR ALINE WONG, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION WEB SITE AND THE REFURBISHED FOYER OF THE BRITISH COUNCIL AT THE BRITISH COUNCIL, NAPIER ROAD, ON WEDNESDAY, 22 APRIL 98 AT 12 NOON
His Excellency, the High Commissioner, Mr Alan Hunt,
Dr John Grote, Director of the British Council,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is my pleasure to be here this afternoon to officiate the opening of the refurbished foyer of the British Council and to launch the British High Commission web site.
There is a special bond between Britain and Singapore. Today’s launch of the British High Commission web site highlights once again this unique, long standing relationship between the two countries. The web site includes a special focus on "Britain in Singapore", a six-month-long focus on British and Singaporean collaboration. Activities of the British Commission, the British Council, the British Chamber of Commerce, the British Tourist Authority and other related agencies will be featured on the web site. At the same time, visitors to the web site in Britain would be able to update themselves on Singapore. I understand that this is part of a follow up project of the recently concluded Second Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM 2) held in London two weeks ago.
Britain-Singapore collaborations can be found in many areas, especially in the field of education. Our education system was originally modelled on the British system. While we work hard at making changes to meet our own special needs, we continue to watch and learn from the changes in the British education system also. Many Singaporeans have studied in the UK in the past. Many students continue to choose to study in Britain, and we continue to send some of our best and brightest students to top British universities. Today, in leadership positions in government, industry, business and academia are Singaporeans who have studied in British universities. On the other hand, many famous British academics and educationists have come to Singapore to share their expertise with our schools and universities. Just a week ago, Sir John Kingman FRS, Vice Chancellor, University of Bristol delivered a public lecture on "Quality in Higher Education" at the National University of Singapore.
Right now, our Education Minister, RAdm Teo Chee Hean, is in the UK on a scheduled visit from 20 to 24 Apr 98. RAdm Teo and his delegation are meeting their counterparts at the UK Department for Education and Employment and other agencies to discuss matters on curriculum, assessment and education standards. Last year, in May, I had also led an MOE delegation to visit various teacher training institutions in the UK. The British Council has been most helpful in arranging our visits. Most appreciated indeed.
At the level of tertiary and post-secondary educational exchanges, many MOUS have been signed by our universities and polytechnics with their counterparts in the UK. Even our primary and secondary schools are learning from each other in cyberspace. During his UK visit, RAdm Teo will be visiting a number of schools in the Birmingham area which are involved in the Singapore-UK Collaborative Project on Internet. It is exciting to know, that currently, 19 primary schools and 14 secondary schools in the UK are engaged in internet-based links with 19 primary and 14 secondary schools in Singapore. The idea of a Virtual Campus is not only interesting and feasible, it will become a common intellectual arena in the not-so-distant future. Information technology has indeed made this possible. Learning is as easy as a mouse click away.
Through the various levels and forms of educational exchange, we are confident that the knowledge gained, the friendships formed and the networks established will continue to benefit both Britain and Singapore for many more decades to come.
May I offer my heartiest congratulations to the British High Commission and the British Council on the opening of this refurbished foyer and the official launch of the British High Commission Website.