Speech by Minister S Iswaran at Boon Lay Secondary School’s 40th Aspire and Achievement Ceremony

SPEECH BY MR S ISWARAN, MINISTER FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY (INDUSTRY), AT BOON LAY SECONDARY SCHOOL’S 40TH ASPIRE AND ACHIEVEMENT CEREMONY ON SATURDAY, 8 APRIL 2017, 9.10AM

Mr Tan Chor Pang, Principal, Boon Lay Secondary School

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1.            Good morning. I am delighted to join you here today for a double celebration - to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Boon Lay Secondary School, and honour the many achievements of your students.

Schools play an important role in nurturing our young

2.            Over the last four decades, Boon Lay Secondary School has been an integral part of the community, providing a nurturing environment for our young to imbibe important values, pick up critical skills, discover their strengths and passion, and build lasting friendships.

3.            Boon Lay Secondary has an inspiring record of developing and grooming students who have done well and carved a niche for themselves.

4.            Mr Derek Tan (Class of 2000) is one such example.  Derek had his first opportunity to experiment with film-making with the encouragement of teachers at the school.  He soon developed a passion for the industry, and has since gone on to direct numerous award-winning short films like “Cashless” (2009), which won the Best of First Takes in 2009, and received the Best Actor nomination at the Asian Festival of First Films. He also filmed “Last Stranger Under The Heavens” (2006), which was selected for screening at the 30th Asian American International Film Festival in New York.

5.            In September 2012, Derek co-founded Viddsee, a video-sharing platform, after realising that well-produced content by South East Asian short-film makers was often overwhelmed by the sea of online content. Through Viddsee, he created a platform for fellow film-makers to share their works with local and global audiences. At the same time, he also sought to ignite conversations among audiences to tell their stories by producing and uploading their own films on the platform.  Today, Viddsee has a reach of 500 million people, and is one of the leading video-sharing platforms in Asia for independent film-makers to showcase their work.

6.            Siblings Ms Thet Hnin Yi and Mr Kyaw Saw Lynn, both from the class of 1993, are further examples of inspiring alumni. They arrived in Singapore from Myanmar and joined Boon Lay Secondary School in 1991. Both remember their times in BLS very fondly and are extremely grateful to their teachers, especially Ms Chamb Cherk Ing and Mr Zulkiffi Bin Ahmad. Ms Thet currently serves as the Group Finance Director of the Cordlife Group Limited, having served previously in consulting and auditing firms. Mr Lynn is currently the Head of Department of Student Leadership and Management at Anglo-Chinese Junior College.  Despite his heavy work commitments, Mr Lynn finds time during his holidays to volunteer in Myanmar, his country of origin.   

7.            Derek, Ms Thet and Mr Lynn are among the many students who nurtured their passion and acquired deep skills at Boon Lay Secondary School. Like them, the students gathered here today have diverse interests and aspirations, and I am confident that Boon Lay Secondary and its committed and caring teachers will continue to provide you a strong supportive environment to help you realise your dreams.

Helping students acquire deep skills and competencies

8.            Many of you would be aware that Boon Lay Secondary School merged with Pioneer Secondary School in January this year.  Such mergers are necessary from time to time because of changes in the demographic profile and needs of the community.  It is therefore important that the culture and ethos of the original schools are not lost in the process.  I am therefore pleased that the merged school is committed to draw on the heritage and strengths of both schools, even as it embarks on new initiatives, in order to build an even stronger educational institution.  

9.            One innovation of the newly merged school is its re-organisation along CCA lines, as opposed to the traditional placement of students in form-classes.  CCA will be the basic familial unit – comprising juniors, seniors and teachers – of the school community.  What this means is that senior students will now be able to mentor and groom their juniors, thus preparing them for leadership in their senior year.

10.         With this new organisation structure, students can also look forward to interest-based modules in areas such as the performing arts, engineering and design, so that when you graduate in 4 to 5 years, you will have developed a strong foundation and be ready for further learning to take your interests to a higher level.  This will help you to be better prepared for the workplace, by acquiring relevant competencies within and beyond the classroom.

Developing our young through the SkillsFuture movement  

11.         These novel efforts undertaken by Boon Lay Secondary School also hold a wider significance.  We are all aware of how industries and jobs are transforming because of technological change and automation.  From factory workers and technicians to surgeons and lawyers, no profession is immune to the challenge posed by technology.  Technological advancement is profoundly changing the way we live, work and play. The economy of the future will be powered by innovation, fuelled by technology, and rich with opportunities for those who are adaptable.

12.         Now more than ever, our students must be nimble, resourceful and ready to go beyond their comfort zones to take on new challenges. Opportunities may come from unexpected quarters including sectors and markets that are unfamiliar or foreign.

13.         The content knowledge that we learn, and skills that we acquire, in school will not be enough to prepare and sustain us through a lifetime career.  Rather, this knowledge and skills form the firm foundation upon which we must build, through skills and competencies that we acquire throughout life, to help us to prepare for the dynamic future that lies ahead.

14.         As the education and career landscape grows more diverse, students and parents may need help navigating these pathways, so that you can make the most of the many opportunities available to you. That is why all secondary schools, junior colleges and Centralised Institutes will have Education and Career Guidance Counsellors by the end of this year.  Students can look forward to speaking with them to make more informed decisions about your post-secondary education options.

15.         Students can also look forward to Enhanced Internships in ITE and Polytechnics that will allow you to deepen and apply both technical and soft skills in a work environment.  This can help you better connect your learning to the workplace and smoothen your transition to the workforce.  Similarly, the Young Talent Programme (YTP) will give ITE and Polytechnic students the chance to participate in overseas market immersion programmes to gain valuable experience while working and living in a foreign land, away from the comforts of home.

16.         With the transformation of our industries, we will maintain the vibrancy of our economy, and will continue to create good jobs for all Singaporeans. And, through the broader SkillsFuture movement, the Government aims to prepare our students, and indeed all Singaporeans, for lifelong learning and continuous skills upgrading so that we can secure the brightest opportunities available in the future economy.

Closing

17.         In closing, let me congratulate the outstanding students who will be receiving the various academic and CCA achievement awards this morning.  You have demonstrated dedication and deep capabilities through your outstanding performances and I wish you continued success in the future.

18.         I would like to convey my deepest appreciation to the teachers and staff of Boon Lay Secondary School for your care and commitment to nurturing the students under your care.  To the alumni, staff, parent, students and all members of the Boon Lay Secondary School community, I wish you all a happy and memorable 40th anniversary. Thank you.

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