ADDENDA TO PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE SEVENTH PARLIAMENT ON MONDAY, 9TH JANUARY, 1989 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Since 1980 we have achieved significant progress in unifying and improving our education system. We have emphasized English as a key factor for Singapore's economic development and as a common working language in our multi-racial society. Today, all pupils learn English as a first language. As a result, our children are increasingly exposed to Western influences, particularly through the media.

It is important for young Singaporeans to be bilingual, and to learn their mother tongue as a second language, so that they will have a strong cultural foundation and not lose their Asian identity and values. The inculcation of core values must begin in the home. The values can be reinforced in the primary schools by ensuring adequate proficiency in the mother-tongue, and through appropriate lessons in the Social Studies, Moral Education and Extra-Curricular programmes.

Over the next five years the Ministry of Education will upgrade the quality of education in our primary schools. We will enhance the professional status of primary school teachers, and upgrade facilities in primary schools, to give our children a good start in school. We will improve curricula, course structure and teaching materials for the mother-tongue, without overloading the child or lowering standards of English, Science and Mathematics, which are essential skills which children must acquire to earn a living in Singapore's modern economy. We will convert all secondary schools to single-session schools, introduce pastoral care and career guidance, and give schools more autonomy to tailor curricula and programmes to meet the needs of their pupils.

At the post-secondary level, we will build four centralized institutes to teach a wide range of commercial and academic subjects, and replace the present pre-university classes in our secondary schools. These institutes will complement the junior colleges, VITB institutes and polytechnics. Together they will produce the trained manpower, particularly technicians and commercial staff, which the economy needs. They will also give every child the opportunity to be educated and trained in marketable skills up to the age of eighteen.

As our schools improve, more students will qualify for university admission. In order to create more university places, the Ministry will expand the teaching and research facilities of the National University of Singapore (NUS), and upgrade the Nanyang Technological Institute (NTI) to a full university by July 1991. If the numbers justify it, we will also establish another tertiary institution to teach subjects such as music, speech, drama, dance and art. If not, we will link the institution to NUS or NTI and award their degrees and diplomas.

DR TONY TAN KENG YAM Minister for Education