Dr Chau Sik Ting (PBM), Chairman, Pei Chun School Management Committee

Mrs Ng Ai Lin, Deputy Director of South Zone Schools,

Mr Toh Chye Seng, Superintendent / South 3,

Mr Chin Kim Woon, Principal, Pei Chun Public School

Distinguished Guests,

Teachers, Parents and Pupils,

Good Morning,

INTRODUCTION

1.                  It gives me great pleasure to join you this morning at the Official Opening of the South Zone Centre of Excellence (COE) for Sports.

2.                  The COE for Sports gives recognition to Pei Chun’s achievements in its Sports programmes.  Leveraging on your strengths in sports, the COE will play a leading role in nurturing a strong sports culture in South Zone primary schools and bring about a high quality all rounded education in our schools.

SPORTING SINGAPORE VISION

3.                  In multi-cultural Singapore, sport is a powerful tool to bring together people of different races and socio-economic groups as they play the same sports and cheer the same team.  Sport also plays an integral part in creating a lifestyle that is vibrant and diverse, intellectually, culturally and physically.  Sporting Singapore Vision is one where sports participation not only helps to foster a healthy lifestyle but also helps to develop a resilient people with the virtues of perseverance, focus, discipline, teamwork, creativity, a drive to excel and a healthy lifestyle.

4.                  Underpinning the Sporting Singapore Vision are three strategic thrusts  – nurturing a strong sports culture, creating a conducive environment and developing effective sporting bodies.  To achieve the vision of a sporting Singapore, schools play an important role in all 3 areas.

STRONG SPORTS CULTURE

5.                  One of the ways to grow a strong sports culture is to nurture an interest in sports in our children from a young age.  Under the Programme for School-based Excellence (PSE) for Sports Talent Identification and Nurturing Programme, Pei Chun identify pupils with talents in sports as early as in Primary 2 and develop them through a systematically planned skills development programme to stretch the potential of these budding talents.  

6.                  Sports excellence is not just for potential champions.  We want to give all students the opportunity to participate in sports and to enjoy sports.  With this in mind, the school has customized sports programmes during curriculum time so that all pupils develop skills in at least two sports or games.

7.                  Nurturing the sports culture in Singapore takes time and requires collective efforts from all stakeholders. We need to work together and capitalize on each other’s strengths. By pooling resources together, the South Zone COE for sports has initiated a range of activities to promote greater interest and participation in sports among primary school pupils.

CONDUCIVE SPORTS ENVIRONMENT

8.                  The second strategy is to build a conducive environment and infrastructure for sports in schools. I am heartened to hear that Pei Chun Public School, has worked hand in hand with the School Management Committee and its other key stakeholders to build a second Sports Hall.  The new Sports Hall will greatly facilitate training sessions and competition events, regardless of time and weather. It will also increase support for events and competitions as it can accommodate more participants and spectators. The sports facilities here will be a welcome resource to all the primary schools in the South Zone.

EFFECTIVE SPORTING BODIES

9.                  Thirdly, effective sporting bodies are strategic to the success of building a sporting Singapore. I would like to commend the South Zone COE for Sports for having the motivation and vision to be the agent for sports development in the South Zone primary schools. I am confident that the COE will fulfill its mission to promote, nurture and sustain interest in sports among our pupils and to generate sustained interest and participation from them.

CHARACTER DEVELOPEMENT

10.             This centre should not be just a centre that adds to the vibrancy of schools, but also one that plays an important role in developing the character of pupils in terms of perseverance, focus, teamwork, creativity and a drive to excel.  The Centre of Excellence will be successful when it is able to strengthen friendships, bond people from the various schools, serve as an agent for racial integration through sports, elicit best ideas and practices, share expertise and resources, augment teaching and learning of sports through collaborations, and translate all these into meaningful learning experiences for both teachers and pupils within the South Zone primary schools.

PLANS FOR SZ COE (SPORTS)

11.             For a start, South Zone COE for Sports will focus on promoting an interest in Volleyball and Wushu. Volleyball and Wushu clinics are being organised for pupils and teachers with the goal of promoting these sports as fun and recreational.  It is hoped that over time, they will develop a lifelong interest in sports.

12.             To improve skills and identify potential in pupils for Volleyball and Wushu, special sports clinics, intensive training workshops and overseas attachments are some programmes in the pipeline to promote sports excellence. For teachers, courses and coaching clinics will be organized to enhance their skills and capabilities in the teaching and learning of Sports, Physical Education and CCA. The Sports Resource Centre located in the school will further promote the professional development of the teachers.

13.             Our schools work closely with the National Sports Associations and other agencies to achieve our mission.  I am happy to note that SZ COE has forged meaningful collaborations with sports associations like the Volleyball Association for Singapore (VAS) and the Wushu Federation. I am sure that both pupils and teachers of the South Zone primary schools will benefit from the collaborations.

CONCLUSION

14.             I would like to mention two special groups of people who have contributed immensely to the development and promotion of sports and games amongst our pupils. Firstly, they are the coaches and teachers who are pivotal to the development of quality sports education in schools.  Coaches and teachers not only impart technical skills, they also act as mentors and foster the love of sports in our pupils.  Secondly, the Superintendents, School Leaders and members of Working Committee who, despite their heavy responsibilities, have found time to be actively involved in the implementation of the COE.  Ladies and gentlemen, let us show our appreciation for their contribution and support!

15.             It is now my pleasure to declare the South Zone Centre of Excellence for Sports open.