Singapore Government Press
Release
Media Relations Division,
Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts,
MITA Building, 140 Hill
Street, 2nd Storey, Singapore 179369
Tel: 6837-9666
OPENING REMARKS BY MR LIM BOON HENG, MINISTER (PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE), AT THE
COUNCIL FOR THIRD AGE – SIM UNIVERSITY MOU SIGNING CEREMONY, MONDAY, 27 AUG 2007,
11.30AM, AT SIM UNIVERSITY
Prof Cham Tao Soon,
Chancellor and Chairman, SIM University
Prof Cheong Hee Kiat,
President, SIM University
Mr Gerard Ee, Chairman,
Council for Third Age
Distinguished guests,
I am pleased to be here
this morning. The collaboration by UniSIM and C3A is commendable, and I am
confident that their initiative will help nurture a culture of lifelong learning
among Singaporeans, and provide seniors one way of keeping actively engaged.
Importance of active ageing
2. As you have probably heard from PM’s
National Day Rally speech, Singaporeans are living longer than ever before. Today, the average life expectancy
at birth is 80 years. Compared to 1965, when Singapore became independent, this
is an increase of 15 years. Compared to 1957 (50 years ago) it is an increase
of 19 years. We are also healthier and better educated, giving us the
opportunity to live life to the fullest at the workplace, within our community
and among loved ones.
3. This also means that we have to change our perception
of what it means by being old. There is a saying that a person does not grow old
– it is only when he stops growing that he becomes old. In other words, we do
not become old when we reach 50, 60 or even 80. According to a recent survey[1], Singaporeans
see themselves as old when they reach 67. On the other hand, the Americans see
themselves as old only much later in life, at 77. Our attitude towards life
often determines how we lead our lives. This is why we are promoting “active
ageing” among Singaporeans, be it through sports, volunteering, or the arts.
4. Active ageing, by the way, is not just for old people.
Mr Gerard Ee has told me as long as we are alive, we age. So what we are trying
to do is to encourage a national consciousness at two levels. First, that at
any point in our lives, we should seek to live life to the fullest, based on
our interests and personal circumstance. Second, we are not old until we think
we are.
Lifelong learning and its benefits
5. Lifelong learning is an important part of
active ageing. The benefits of learning are well
documented - it promotes greater self-confidence and keeps us mentally alert. It also opens doors to new
worlds of social networks and knowledge. The common denominator of students in
UniSIM is not age – the young and the less young study together – it is a
curiosity of life and thirst for knowledge.
6. Last year’s winner of the Lifelong Learner Award, Mr
Jagjeet Singh is a good example of one who does not stop learning in his golden
years. After 42 years in teaching, Mr
Singh, at 67, is pursuing a counseling degree at UniSIM. He aims to use his counseling knowledge to
help others in the schools and in the community. I understand that he even
intends to pursue a doctorate in counseling!
7. In Singapore, learning beyond
the school years has often taken a practical bent. The Ministry of Manpower and
Workforce Development Agency have heavily invested in initiatives to upgrade
and retrain the skills of Singaporean workers. This is certainly an important
aspect of learning, for us to stay relevant and updated in a fast changing
world.
8. But learning can also
take place for other reasons. Some of us miss school and want to study again. There
are also community-level colleges for those who prefer to learn life skills at
a less academic level. 500 Chinese-speaking seniors have graduated from the
YAH! College, which was started by the Marine Parade Family Service Centre in 2004. I understand that YAH! College has a
strong alumni following, suggesting that its programs are well received.
9. There are also many opportunities for
Singaporeans to pursue their personal interests. And these are growing by the
day. In recent years, the Chinese Calligraphy Society of Singapore has set up a Seniors Calligraphy
University, the first
such institution in Southeast Asia. Closer to our homes, our community clubs
offer many hobby-based and interest-based courses. For those who want to know
more about Singapore, there are many guided tours, such as those under the National
Heritage Board and National Parks Board. We can also learn as we travel. In the US, 200,000 people participate every
year in travel learning programs organized by a non-profit organisation called Elderhostel.
10. Modern technology has
also opened up new ways to learn. In the U.K., the University of Third Age offers short internet-based courses
specially designed for seniors to study from the comfort of their homes. If
there is demand, there is no reason why this cannot be set up in Singapore. C3A
and the Infocomm Development Authority, or IDA, are exploring joint efforts to raise
IT literacy among our seniors. I understand that UniSIM is also investing
substantially to deliver its courses online.
Commendation on
UniSIM-C3A efforts
11. UniSIM’s General Studies Programme stands
out for several reasons. Firstly, it caters to the individual interests of students
and offers them the flexibility to design their own programme from a wide menu
of courses.
12. Secondly, students decide how fast or
slowly they wish to learn. Senior adults can join the programme and study at
their own pace and leisure while enjoying the fun of interacting with younger
classmates in a varsity setting.
13. Thirdly, UniSIM has committed to giving senior
students some concession for their learning. Senior adults may find a suitable
course to join, even with less than 5 “O” levels, provided they pass an
interview or a test.
14. For C3A, this MOU marks a good start to
its efforts to promote active ageing in Singapore. I am confident that C3A will
continue to work with UniSIM and other partners to open up opportunities for lifelong
learning in Singapore.
15. On this note, I wish every success to the Council and
UniSIM in their collaboration.
16. Thank you.
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