DPM Teo Chee Hean at the 15th Anniversary and 13th College Day of Meridian Junior College

Mr Lim Yan Hock, Principal, Meridian Junior College,
Mr Loke Chee Pheng, Cluster Superintendent,
Members of the College Advisory Committee,
Staff, Parents, Students,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning.

I had announced that Meridian Junior College (JC) will be set up in Pasir Ris in 2002 and attended your Official Opening in 2005. As we celebrate your 15^th anniversary and 13^th College Day today, I see many familiar faces and am happy to have played a part in your journey.

In these 15 years, I have watched with quiet pride and satisfaction at the way that Meridian JC has firmly established itself as an institution that nurtures students who do not just do well academically, but are also community-minded, and well-rounded in sports and the arts. A good number of Meridians live here in Pasir Ris, and I’ve known you since your younger years.

Our education objectives have always been to prepare our students to address Singapore’s challenges and build a collective future. We will continue to focus on having a holistic education to develop our students’ potential, building new skills and competencies for the future economy, and nurturing values for life.

Cultivating Learned Men and Women of Calibre; Having the Heart and Will to Lead and Serve

Meridian JC has embraced these objectives since its inception and built a strong “Meridian” spirit of excellence. Your mission is aptly put - “to cultivate learned men and women of calibre, with the heart and will to lead and serve in a challenging world”. There are two aspects to this as we prepare Meridians for the future.

First, cultivating learned men and women of calibre. Your teachers and staff have charted new paths and put life skills such as critical thinking, self-directed learning, and confident communication and collaboration at the heart of your programmes. In your classrooms, through Team-Based Learning, students are encouraged to work together to develop novel solutions.

Having a good knowledge of our region and a global orientation also help Meridians better understand Singapore’s operating environment. The Meridian Seminar Series and the “Global Lite Bites” present global trends on inter-disciplinary topics keeping Meridians updated on current affairs – developments in ASEAN, China and India, how the Syrian conflict affects our security, and why protecting the environment is important for our small island nation. They help our students think more deeply about issues that affect the world and our region, and their implications for Singapore.

The second aspect is having the will to lead and serve. Meridian JC provides a wide range of opportunities for students to develop their leadership potential. Your good performance in team sports such as football and floorball reflects the College’s emphasis on developing teamwork and collaborative skills.  

Meridians have also been active in contributing to the community. For instance, Meridians have been mentoring students from Elias Primary, befriending our elderly in the neighbourhood and helping those with special needs in Pasir Ris. These interactions help build a strong spirit of service, and put values into action.  Programmes such as the GoGlobal outreach and cultural immersion in countries such as Cambodia also allow Meridians to contribute to the local communities in our region.

Future Plans for Merged JC

Meridian JC will continue to provide a wide range of opportunities to develop our students.

I am aware that Meridian JC’s staff, parents, alumni and students have mixed feelings on the merger of JCs announced recently. Many of us retain close ties to our JCs, as they were an integral part of our formative years. We developed our strengths and passions, and made lifelong friends in these premises.

But it is our hope that when JCs come together, the sum is greater than its parts. The mission remains the same. Our colleges will continue to provide our students with a rich educational experience.  For Meridian JC and Tampines JC, let us build on the strong foundation and bring the merged college to greater heights.

But it is our hope that when JCs come together, the sum is greater than its parts. The mission remains the same.

DPM Teo

I am happy that the Principals, Teachers and Student Unions of both JCs are already working together on a common future. They have put together several initiatives that will benefit students from next year before the merger in 2019. For instance, both JCs will form combined teams for inter-school competitions and plan the 2018 orientation programme together. Meridian JC’s 2018 JC1 intake will also be offered the special programmes[1] currently available at Tampines JC. Students can also look forward to a wider range of CCAs offered by both colleges[2].

Conclusion

As Meridian JC prepares for this new phase, I would encourage every member of the Meridian family, friends and partners to give your full support. We can help both JCs develop well-rounded students who have a lifelong passion for learning who will contribute as leaders of our community. 

I would like to acknowledge and thank in particular, Meridian’s founding Principal, Esther Lai, for her dedication and the contributions she has made to establish Meridian and give it such a solid foundation.

I congratulate the Principal, Mr Lim Yan Hock, the College Advisory Committee, staff, parents, the alumni and students of Meridian JC on this joyous occasion. I am confident that in the years ahead, many more learned young men and women of calibre will stand ready to build a better Singapore for our future generations.

Thank you.