Mr Sng Chern Wei, Principal of Dunman High School,

Members of the School Advisory Committee,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Introduction

It is my pleasure to join you today in the annual Speech and Prize-giving Ceremony of Dunman High School. Dunman High is a prestigious school with a rich history and tradition. Built on a strong foundation of Chinese values and a culture that aspires for excellence, Dunman High has grown to become one of the most established schools in Singapore . It is thus not surprising that despite its temporary relocation this year from Tanjong Rhu to Mount Sinai , Dunman High continues to remain highly popular with prospective parents and students. Not many schools can relocate from the East to the West, and still maintains its high PSLE cut-off in its intake of students.

Challenges Ahead

An important reason for Dunman High’s success is that it is a progressive institution that continually searches for ways to improve its quality of education. It was the first government school to offer the Gifted Education Programme in 1996 and set up a school hostel in 2000. It was also the first government school to introduce the Integrated Programme and the Bicultural Studies Programme in 2005. This progressive orientation is a strong attribute that will help the school to sustain its excellence into the future.

We are living in exciting times. Globalization and technologies are radically changing the way we live and work. Global competition for talent has never been keener and the talented has never been more mobile. In order to remain competitive in such a world, every nation needs to be more nimble, flexible and innovative. This is especially so for a small country like Singapore , as we are much more vulnerable to external changes. It is therefore critical that we nurture in our youths the courage to dream, the passion to innovate and the tenacity to persevere. Schools play an important role in equipping our children with such dispositions, by creating different pathways to help them discover their talent and experience success. I am glad that Dunman High is responding to these challenges on many fronts.

Dunman High Integrated Programme

On the academic front, Dunman High has introduced the Integrated Programme two years ago. By exempting students from the O-level examinations, the school was able to save precious curriculum time that would otherwise be spent on narrow examination preparation. With the freed-up curriculum time, Dunman High has re-designed its curriculum and teaching approaches to emphasise more strongly inter-disciplinary learning and the acquiring of higher order thinking skills. The Integrated Programme also provides students with more choices in their learning. Students are offered a range of elective modules, which they can choose based on their interests and talent. Such room for self-directed learning has opened up new opportunities for students to discover their passion and explore possibilities beyond the regular curriculum.

Conversational Malay Programme

I am particularly heartened to note that the school has introduced a Conversational Malay Language Programme as a core module for all lower secondary students. Through the learning of conversational Malay, Dunman High students will get to understand the Malay culture and customs more deeply, and acquire the ability to communicate more intimately with their Malay friends. For a SAP school where the student profile is mainly Chinese, this is certainly a move in the right direction. Not only will it prepare Dunman High students better for building a cohesive and harmonious Singapore, but it will also equip them with the language skills to seize opportunities in the Malay-speaking societies outside Singapore .

Co- Curriculum Programmes

The academic field is not all that matters. The non-academic field also plays a critical role in nurturing the skills and habits required for success in tomorrow’s world. Dunman High has given this domain equal emphasis in producing all-rounded students in the moral, cognitive, physical, social and aesthetic aspects. Through their participation in Co-Curricular Activities and Overseas Immersion Programmes, Dunmanians learn to be a good team player, to create, to collaborate, to take risks and to lead in the face of adversity. The various overseas partnership programmes and overseas trips that the school has organized are in line with the school vision of being “the choice school for nurturing leaders of honour who are high achieving, loyal citizens with a global outlook”. These programmes are good platforms for students to learn to be versatile, innovative and to thrive in different cultures.

Character Development

Even as we introduce innovations and improvements in a school’s academic and co-curriculum programmes, we must strive to preserve and build on our underlying strengths. One of Dunman High’s key strengths is its ability to anchor its students in sound and moral values and to imbue in them a strong sense of community. With its rich history and heritage, Dunman High has helped keep alive the best traditions and ethos of the old Chinese schools. It has also instilled traditional Chinese values and discipline in its students.

Ultimately, the benefits enjoyed by students from their education are justified by the quality of their commitment and contributions back to society. Dunmanians must understand that they have a responsibility to contribute to society and to help others to enjoy the same opportunities that they have had. People who gain most from society and the benefits of community must also bear the heaviest responsibility and have the keenest sense of social and community obligations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to extend my congratulations to the recipients of today’s annual awards for their outstanding accomplishments. I would also like to commend the school’s Advisory Committee, Parents Support Group, the Alumni and all staff of Dunman High for helping students to realise their potential and achieve these accomplishments.

For all the Dunmanians seated here today, what lies ahead of you is an exciting future. Always remember your roots, who you are and what it means to be a Dunmanian in whatever you do. Help those who are less fortunate to realise their dreams. In helping others, you would also have contributed to our common Singapore dream of building an inclusive society.

I wish all of you every success. Thank you.