SPEECH BY MR HAWAZI DAIPI, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION & MINISTRY OF MANPOWER AND MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR SEMBAWANG GRC (MARSILING) AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF MARSILING SECONDARY SCHOOL ON WEDNESDAY, 2 JULY 2003, AT 5.30PM

Dr Lim Wee Kiak
Chairman, School Advisory Committee

Mr Chan Tee Miang
Director, Organisation Development, Ministry of Education

Mrs Choy Chee Meh
Principal, Marsiling Secondary School

Distinguished Guests

Parents, Teachers and Students

Introduction

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It is my pleasure to join you this evening at the official opening of Marsiling Secondary School. Today is a joyous occasion for more than one reason. We convene today after having had our initial plans disrupted because of SARS. It has been a challenging time since for Singapore and our schools, but I am glad that together, we have overcome the challenges. With everyone's cooperation and dedication, Singapore was taken off the World Health Organisation's list of SARS-affected countries on 31 May 2003. Our teachers and non-teaching staff have been at the forefront of the fight against SARS in schools and I am quite sure that the teachers and other staff members in Marsiling Secondary School are no exception. I thank you for your hard work and commitment.

Towards progress

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Marsiling Secondary School is a school whose growth I have witnessed over the past three years. I am glad to note that since it commenced operations in 2000, the school has seen a steady increase in the number of Primary Six students opting for it as their first choice in their selection of secondary schools. This is a positive indication that the residents in Woodlands are confident that Marsiling Secondary School can provide quality education for their children. It is also a strong testimony of the effectiveness of the school's vision and leadership.

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I am glad to note that the leadership is mindful of the school's responsibility of preparing its students for the challenges of the future. We have already made the leap into the knowledge economy, where the wealth of a country depends not on its natural resources, nor its size, but on the quality of its people and their capacity for innovation. Marsiling Secondary School has taken active steps to nurture students to succeed in such an environment. The school has established a forward-looking curriculum with emphases on creativity and innovation. It has aptly identified Information Technology (IT) and Science as its niche areas. For a school with a relatively short history of three years, it has certainly chalked up significant achievements in these two areas.

Achievements in IT and Science

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I am told that Marsiling Secondary School is the only secondary school on MOE's edu.QUEST project which is designed to create a stimulating learning environment through the innovative implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education. Through this project, teachers and students have the opportunity to utilise wireless and media-rich technology for active learning and research. The school trialed the first eduPi Camp in 2001 involving pupils, parents and teachers in learning together how to make i-movies. The eduPi Camp was awarded the MOE Innovation Fund and clinched a Gold award as a WITs project. In 2002, it won the MOE Innergy Award (Silver) at the MOE ExCEL Day.

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In the area of Science, the school was awarded the CitiSuccess grant to research on the innovative use of pandan leaves as a cockroach repellent. In January this year, it successfully launched its Energy Conservation Learning Centre which was developed in partnership with the Singapore Polytechnic and with sponsorship from National Semiconductor Manufacturer Singapore Pte Ltd. In addition to giving students the opportunity to explore harnessing solar energy, the project also serves to develop habits of energy conservation. I am happy to learn that an entry from the school won the Third Prize and The Most Functional Innovation Award at the Earthlink-NTU Solar Innovations 2002 Competition. Such innovative approaches to energy conservation should be shared with others too. I am thus heartened to know that the school has opened its Energy Conservation Learning Centre to other schools in the North 5 cluster.

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Indeed, Marsiling Secondary has taken a step in the right direction by harnessing students' interest in the areas of IT and Science. I am confident that through these programmes, students of Marsiling Secondary have imbibed the spirit of innovation and experimentation. This trait will surely stand our youth in good stead when they finally join the world of work.

Core Values

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Even as we equip students with the knowledge and skills to excel in a challenging new environment, it is equally important to imbue in them sound principles and values. I am glad that even as Marsiling Secondary School strives to achieve its mission of developing world-ready students, it places equal emphasis on their character development. Thus, as it eggs on students to experiment and research on the use of pandan leaves as cockroach repellant, it also encourages them to help the disadvantaged in society by raising funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Singapore, by selling the notebooks made from pandan leaves.

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I note also Marsiling Secondary School students' enthusiastic participation in various community activities, ranging from fund-raising events to performing at cultural and festive events. At the recent official opening of Fuchun Community Club in Marsiling Constituency by the Prime Minister, Marsiling Secondary students not only performed in a concert and run a stall at the carnival, but they also introduced a drink they had concocted themselves, which they had named Marsiling Sling. In the process, the school also benefited from the proceeds of the carnival. Through active participation in community work, I am confident that the students will develop into caring and responsible citizens.

Parents and the Community as Partners

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A school cannot, on its own, succeed without the active support and participation of parents and the community. I am pleased that the school has engaged parents as active partners of the school. I am told that some have been volunteering their service in the school's reading programme, its sexuality education programme as well as training the school staff in video production. The school, in turn, has organised various Parent Education Workshops and Talks to foster closer home-school collaboration.

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With such strong collaborative efforts among the school, parents, the business community and the community-at-large, I am confident the school will chalk up even greater accomplishments as it continues to provide quality education for its students.

Conclusion

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Building up a new school is no easy task. I commend the principal, teachers and staff for the school's achievements in such a relatively short time. Developing a school identity and character takes a long time. With the excellent state-of-the-art facilities this new building has to offer, coupled with a forward looking curriculum, committed staff as well as supportive parents, local grassroots organisations and industry partners, I am confident that much more will be achieved by the school in the years ahead.

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It is now my pleasure to declare Marsiling Secondary School open and wish the school every success.

Thank you.