SPEECH BY DR NG ENG HEN, MINISTER OF STATE FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, AT THE LAUNCH OF SPHERE AT BLK 31 LORONG 5 TOA PAYOH ON SATURDAY 29 JUN 02, 11.00 AM

Mr Niam Chiang Meng,

CEO of HDB and Chairman of Singapore Pools Pte Ltd,

Residents and Grassroots Leaders in Bishan - Toa Payoh GRC,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies & Gentlemen

Boys and Girls

A generation ago, it was more common to have large families. People then believed that the more children they had, the more they could depend on their children to support them through their golden years.

Progress has brought with it lifestyle changes and today in Singapore, as in many developed countries, small families are the norm. Those who decide to have a family, do so on a smaller scale because of our rushed lifestyles. Furthermore, with prudent financial planning to take care of old-age needs, children are no longer viewed as the only insurance for old age. On the other hand, advancements in science are helping to improve longevity and increasing life expectancy. Steadily and surely, we are becoming a greying society.

At the Second World Assembly on Ageing held in Madrid two months ago, a report by the United Nations Population Division concluded that the trend towards older populations is largely irreversible. The report forecasted that by 2050, about 21% of the world's population would aged 60 or above, exceeding those below the age of 15 for the first time in history.

In Singapore, about 7% of our population are 65 years or older, compared with 2.2% in 1957. By 2030. one in every five Singaporeans will be 65 years or older. A greying population also has many severe implications for all facets of our life, be it national defence, economic growth, taxation, health, housing or even voting patterns and representations.

The task of enabling our senior citizens to live meaningfully is not an easy one and no single group can accomplish it. Senior citizens come from diverse family and educational backgrounds and are at different stages of physical and financial health. They have different recreational needs, different priorities in life and different lifestyle preferences. Those who are financially well off and socially mobile may prefer to live within their own means and expectations. However, those like the elderly living in HDB rental flats, will need extra care and attention from society. But all have suffered together with Singapore through many crises, and contributed in their own special ways to make our country the success that it is today.

Over the years, the Government has progressively introduced various measures to assist our senior citizens, and given particular attention to those who need it more. Since 1993, HDB has been carrying out the Project to Improve the Living Conditions for the Elderly jointly with MCDS in HDB apartment blocks with one room rental flats and a high percentage of senior citizens. Under this project, HDB improves the physical conditions while MCDS appoints Volunteer Welfare Organization to run the Senior Activity Centre which organize activities for the elderly in these blocks. The outcome of this joint effort was so successful that to date, a total of 38 blocks of one-room rental flats comprising about 11,400 units have been announced for implementation under this Project.

In 1998, the Government introduced the Studio Apartment Scheme. It is a housing option that allows the elderly to maintain their independence and privacy without sacrificing the close company of their children, friends and peers. Those who sell their properties and move into these smaller but affordable studio apartment would also realise the appreciation in the value of their properties without losing the roof over their heads. There are more than 900 such studio apartments in six blocks. In these blocks, MCDS set up Neighbourhood Links which promote volunteerism among the elderly and other age groups and provide a support network within the neighbourhood.

Today, I am pleased to launch yet another project to improve the welfare of the elderly living in studio apartment blocks and also those living in HDB rental blocks under the Project to Improve Living Conditions for the Elderly. It is a partnership project with a clear vision and a name to match – the SPHERE project. SPHERE stands for "Students, Singapore Pools, HDB Enriching and Reaching Out to the Elderly" or SPHERE in short. Initiated by HDB and Singapore Pools Pte Ltd (SPools), SPHERE aims to encourage students to be involved in community-based activities and care for the elderly in a programme that is mutually beneficial.

Under SPHERE, various Secondary Schools, Junior Colleges and Institute of Technical Education will be identified to serve at specific rental blocks or studio apartment blocks. The students at these levels would be more independent and able to plan and conduct activities for the elderly. They can organise various types of activities for the elderly, such as block parties, health screening, social outings etc. They will also work very closely with the VWO in the Seniors Activity Centres and Neighbourhood Links to avoid duplication and compliment one other's efforts .

10I am glad that Singapore Pools is generously sponsoring $1 million to fund these activities. Each school would be sponsored $10,000 for the students' activities at each block. The funds will provide the students with the resources to plan rewarding and meaningful activities to reach out to the elderly.

The objective of SPHERE is:

• firstly, to promote the spirit of volunteerism for able citizens, especially the younger generation, to care for the elderly; and
• secondly, to encourage community bonding through physical planning work and facilitating interaction among Singaporeans, young and old.

For the elderly, SPHERE will further enrich their lives. The students possess certain unique skills that they can impart to the elderly. For example, computer-savvy students can help the elderly overcome their fears about the new technology and encourage them to explore a whole new world in cyber space. Those with technical skills can help the elderly to do simple, everyday repair work around the house.

I have always maintained that this younger generation who receive excellent and highly subsidised education owes the older generation a debt for their sacrifices. Through SPHERE students can repay their debt to society but I believe that what the students gain would be more than what they give. Their efforts and contribution could gain them credit for the National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) run by the NYAA Council. But more importantly, they would have a strong sense of satisfaction from helping fellow citizens lead a more meaningful life. They would also gain first-hand knowledge of the unique and personal experiences of the elderly, of their struggles through life and their journey through the pages of Singapore’s history; the Japanese occupation, the racial riots in pre-independence days and the struggle for nationhood will all come alive for the students.

The interaction among the students and the elderly will not be confined to the schools and the blocks they serve. The Ministry of Education will encourage the students from different schools to exchange ideas and experiences and pool their resource wherever possible. This will in turn enhance rapport among different types of schools such as boys' schools and girls' schools, Government schools and Government aided schools, schools with normal academic stream, express stream and normal technical stream, etc. After they graduate, they can pass on their rich experiences to their juniors. As more and more students enrich their own spiritual life through volunteering, we hope they will carry their enthusiasm to other segments of the population through other means after graduation. Those with leadership qualities will also be welcomed to inject new blood into our grassroots organizations where their services are always needed.

SPHERE will start on a pilot basis at three rental blocks involving five schools in Bishan Toa Payoh GRC. The five schools are Raffles Institution, CHIJ-Toa Payoh, ITE East Bishan, Braddell-Westlake Secondary School and Whitley Secondary School. The three rental blocks benefiting from the pilot project are Blk 5, Blk 15 and Blk 31 Toa Payoh. There are various parties involved in this project. They include HDB, Singapore Pools, the grassroots organizations, the VWO, Ministry of Education and the principals, teachers and students in these five schools. They are all very enthusiastic about this project. I understand that many parents too are very supportive. I also hear that many students have many activities in mind, and some of these activities have already been carried out even before the launch this morning. With such dedication and enthusiam, I am confident that the pilot project is off to a great start.

On this note, it is my pleasure to declare the project SPHERE officially launched.

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