Singapore Government Press Release

I am very happy to be with you this afternoon at the 10th Anniversary cum Prize Presentation Ceremony of Junyuan Primary School.

A decade ago, when I first stepped into this school after winning the general elections, the school had just opened its classrooms to pupils from the surrounding neighbourhood and beyond. Being a new school had a disadvantage as it had yet to develop its reputation and it was fair then to say that Junyuan was not a school topmost in the minds of many parents. But the sheer hard work, determination, far-sightedness and the strong pioneering spirit existing among the principals, teachers and pupils had propelled the school towards their successful endeavour. Today, Junyuan Primary School is standing proud as a school which is not only popular but one that offers choice of hope and good value-added for its pupils.

Observing from a distance, I could sense the improvements taking place because we have less and less cases referred to us during our Meet-the-People sessions coming from the school. Financial cases, need to pay for school fees, yes, I have received many of them. But the number of those referred to me for having disciplinary and behavioral problems had declined tremendously. Within 10 years, the school has actually made a quantum leap in making itself one of the topmost primary schools in Tampines.

The results speak for themselves. In 1989, the first batch of 65 pupils sat for the PSLE examination and 81.5% passed. In 1994, 373 pupils sat for the examination and 93.8% passed the PSLE. Last year, out of 388 who sat for PSLE, 98.5% passed. The percentage increase of the results is a clear manifestation of the vast improvement that the school has made in the academic field. It is my hope, and I believe it is the hope of many of you present here today too, that this year's results would be even better.

But being successful in the academic field is only part of the educational objective. As the aim of education is to produce balanced citizens of the future -- people with good qualification, strong character, caring mind, courteous, cultured and creative, and above all loyal citizens -- the social aspect in education is equally important.

In this connection, it is heartening to learn that Junyuan is not lacking in this respect either. While the school has succeeded in pursuing excellence in the IQ aspect, it is also not lacking in the EQ aspect.

I remember when we were struggling to build our new community club building in Tampines West, we had to raise $1.7　million. Junyuan Primary School joined the rank of generous contributors by helping to sell our walkathon cards. The school's contribution was noted as very significant. Yesterday, I was informed by the organiser of the North East CDC Charity Dash that the school is among the top solicitors netting an intake collection of about $3,000/-.

If there is consistency in the school's performance, it is a balanced approach towards achieving academic excellence as well as pupils with high civic-mindedness with strong sense of caring and sharing.

As we move into the new millenium and face new challenges, the role of the school as an institution for character building and transmission of values will become even more crucial.

In a globalised society, our life will be totally different. Changes taking place rapidly and on a world-wide scale are the external forces that operate in a manner which are beyond our control. Singapore, a city state, will have to contend with the new era of modern communication system and shrinking world, extensive use of IT, intensive information flow, mass consumption and make the best out of it.

As human society world-wide face its biggest test far superceding the agricultural, industrial and scientific revolutions that had shaped the world before, Singapore needs to carve a niche for our own survival. While we may not be able to control development that would directly affect us, we are able to strengthen our ability to absorb and use its potentiality to our advantage. Moving into a knowledge-based society is one way of securing such a niche.

In this connection, strengthening our institutions such as family and the school will be a crucial factor in deciding whether we can ride over the changes and move to a new height.

I believe Junyuan Primary School is poised to meet the new challenges. While this requires the principal and teachers to review and refine and, if necessary, revamp their approach and programmes for the school, your success in making the necessary changes will go a long way in helping the nation secure its future through the successful creation of a knowledge-based society.

I am sure as you have successfully met the challenges in the past 10 years to carve a niche of success, I am sure the next 10　years would be an equally, if not more, successful one.

Congratulations, Junyuan, on your 10th birthday and to the principal, teachers and pupils, my heartiest thanks for inviting me to share the joy.

I wish you every success in the future.

Thank you.

Annex