SINGAPORE LEARNING FESTIVAL

Mr Seng Han Thong asked the Minister for Manpower how successful is the Learning Festival and whether it has achieved the desired outcome.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: The inaugural Singapore Learning Festival was held over two weeks from 27th August to 10th September 2000. The Festival was supported by 65 partners from the public, private and people sectors. Together we organised more than 300 learning-related activities. The Festival sought to demonstrate the opportunities for lifelong learning to people from all walks of life. It also highlighted the importance of lifelong learning for everyone - young or old, workers or professionals, children or adults and individuals or families and impressed upon Singaporeans the need to continuously acquire new skills and knowledge to remain employable in this highly competitive fast-changing globalised economy.

Through the Festival and the other promotional activities, we hope to create greater awareness of the importance of lifelong learning and, over time, achieve stronger commitment and increased participation in lifelong learning.

It has only been a month since the end of the Festival, so it is too early to tell if we have achieved the desired outcomes. However, we are pleased with the participation in the festival activities.

In all, it is estimated that some 100,000 people participated in the various festival activities.

The 2-day Singapore Learning Symposium focusing on creativity, leadership and lifelong learning had about 900 participants including CEOs of local and international companies, community and grassroot leaders, leaders from unions and professional bodies, government officials, and participants from training providers, schools and institutions. Ninety-six per cent (96%) of the respondents of the on-site survey indicated that they would attend the Symposium again.

The Learning Expo attracted over 31,000 visitors. Visitors included school leavers, working adults, families, students, human resource and training managers and members of trade unions.

Over 3,000 people took part in the Mind Sports Olympiad which featured mind games and activities designed to stimulate and develop thinking, innovative and creative qualities.

The Learning Web which offered over 300 learning activities at various companies, community clubs and other public venues all over the island, also saw encouraging participation - approximately 60,000 participants. Over 80% of the activities achieved more than 50% enrolment.

We have received requests from members of the public to have more activities conducted in Mandarin. There were also many suggestions to bring subsequent festivals closer to home. At this point, let me take this opportunity to share with you that the Ministry has commissioned Forbes Research to conduct a survey to determine the learning propensity of Singaporeans and to establish the attractiveness and effectiveness of the Learning Festival. The findings of the survey will be ready by year-end. We will use the findings from the survey to guide us in our planning for future learning festivals and other supporting learning activities.

In conclusion, the inaugural Singapore Learning Festival 2000 is but a first step in our journey towards cultivating a nation of lifelong learners. We are doing a more detailed study of this first Festival and will use the lessons learnt to guide us in future activities to promote lifelong learning.