Mr N Satianathan, Principal

I am very happy to join you today at this Official Opening of Unity Secondary School.

When Unity Secondary School started in Choa Chu Kang in January 2000, the community looked forward to its making significant contributions in the education and development of our children. Certainly the school has been given a good start. It is well designed, with beautiful buildings and up-to-date facilities, which can leverage on innovative teaching methodology and advances in Information Technology. The provision of such facilities is testimony to Singapore's success over the last three decades; success brought about by foresight, pragmatic and realistic policies and, most importantly, the desire to succeed.

Today, the world is at a difficult point in time. The events of September 11 has changed life, not just in Singapore, but indeed, in the world, generating much uncertainty. Economic realities and situations have changed. Multi-racial societies like Singapore’s face new tests of our will and ability to remain cohesive and united in purpose and pursuit of our goals.

For Singapore, we need to address two important issues – economic prosperity and social cohesion. To remain dynamic and competitive in a knowledge-based economy, we need to ensure that our people can meet rapid changes and new demands. Schools have a role to ensure that they teach pupils not only content and skills, but also develop values, attitudes and strength of character.

The work places and economy of the future require that our workers have IT skills, and schools have been quick to provide pupils with such training and exposure. Certainly, too, advances in IT have opened up opportunities for learning, providing pupils with richer and better sources and learning tools. But, with the plethora of information and viewpoints readily accessible through the Internet and other media, pupils must learn to assess them critically. They must learn to select information, make meaning out of them, understand trends, and be quick to pick up opportunities and seize the initiative. This also means pupils need a sound value base from which to make decisions and judgements.

Clearly, an attitude for lifelong learning is essential for us to succeed in a changed and changing world. Essential, too, are resilience and a spirit of openness and innovation, for the ways we operated may no longer secure us success and we must discover new ways. The ability to adjust, adapt and invent amidst uncertainty therefore becomes crucial.

To achieve social cohesion in a multi-racial society such as ours, schools have a responsibility to teach and develop respect and understanding for each other’s cultures and beliefs. Schools can and must provide the forum for interaction, friendship and bonding. Indeed, schools have a unique opportunity in this, for bonds built among the young can often withstand the test of time.

Yet, underlying all our efforts in these two arenas must be a commitment to Singapore. We need citizens who are rooted in Singapore and who work to advance her interests. In an increasingly connected world and as Singaporeans operate on a wider stage, this is a challenge we must address. Schools have a major role in national education, shaping the national will of pupils and developing the glue that cements them to each other and to Singapore.

How will schools develop these attitudes, skills, habits and values in our pupils? It will not be through lessons and programmes alone, but also by having an environment that challenges pupils and provides opportunities for discovery and creativity, risk and practice, and through the encouragement and example of teachers.

Yet this is not a role for schools alone. Parents and the community can and must play a part in moulding the child’s character and create the environment for him to develop. I urge parents and the community to work with the school to nurture our young people. In this respect, I am glad to note that Unity has reached out to parents and the community through its programmes and activities.

All these requirements no doubt place a heavy responsibility on our schools. But I am confident that Unity Secondary School has the will and the spirit to successfully face the challenges. Indeed, I note from the school’s vision that you strive to develop "future-proof individuals" who will be able to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future. I am also pleased to note that you have set out to achieve not only goals of academic and sports excellence, but also character building, and inculcation of social responsibility and community spirit. You have set out to do this through the school’s programmes and teaching-learning environment. This is indeed commendable.

I commend the school for having won awards and making its presence felt in competitions in these two short years.

My congratulations to Unity Secondary for having won the confidence of a large number of parents in the community, as evidenced by the more than 2500 Primary Six pupils opting for it.

On this auspicious occasion I wish all stakeholders of Unity Secondary every success, as you strive to do your best for the school. It is now my great pleasure to declare Unity Secondary School officially open.