DPM Teo Chee Hean at the 60th Anniversary of Dunman High School

内阁和国会同僚

咨询委员会主席
魏成辉先生

德明政府中学校长
符传丰博士

各位嘉宾

女士们，先生们

晚上好

我还记得1997年，我来德明主持新校舍的开幕典礼。已经快20年了。现在的校舍，有更多，更好的设备，让老师和同学们一起学习，一起成长。今晚，我很高兴再来德明，和大家一起庆祝60周年校庆。德明培养了不少双语，双文化的人才. 德明的校训是 “诚信勇忠”。多年来，也培养很多品德良好的学生。接下来，让我用英语发言。

[English translation] I still remember coming for the Official Opening of this Dunman High School campus in 1997. That was almost 20 years ago. Now, the campus has even more and better facilities where teachers and students learn and grow together. Tonight, I am very happy to come to Dunman High again, to join in your 60th anniversary celebration. Dunman High has done well to nurture many bilingual, bicultural students， and inculcated good values in its students, enshrined in the school motto of Honesty, Trust-worthiness, Moral Courage and Loyalty (“诚信勇忠”). I will now continue in English.

Building a Strong Foundation

Dunman High School has come a long way since it was founded amidst political turmoil in 1956. It started as the Kallang West Government Chinese Middle School, with just 100 boys and 10 teachers at Mountbatten Road. In 1957, the school moved to Dunman Road, and was renamed Dunman Government Chinese Middle School. It allowed Chinese-stream students to continue their education, through those tumultuous times. In 1979, it was selected to be a Special Assistance Plan (SAP) school and renamed Dunman High School. SAP schools provide opportunities for students to study both English and Mandarin to a high standard, and seek to preserve the character of traditional Chinese-medium schools. Dunman High has since distinguished itself through its outstanding academic performance, co-curricular activities and holistic development of its students. Today, the school has almost 300 staff members, and offers a range of programmes including the Bicultural Studies Programme, Music Elective Programme, and the Integrated Programme to its 2,400 students.

The past and present principals, teachers and staff of Dunman High have worked very hard over the decades to give its students a very good education.  I am sure the alumni here tonight will gladly join me to express their gratitude to all of you for your dedication and good work. 

Many Dunman High alumni have gone on to contribute to the school, the community and the nation in different roles, living up to the school’s mission “To nurture students to Care, to Serve and to Lead”. Your alumni are active in public service and politics, business and social enterprise, sports, arts and culture, and other areas. Many of you including several of my colleagues are present here this evening to celebrate this occasion. I hope that the many distinguished alumni will inspire current and future Dunman High students to give back in their own ways. 

Preparing Our Young for the Future

Through these decades, the fundamentals of education have not changed. Our schools must continue to give our young Singaporeans a strong foundation in literacy, numeracy, science and humanities. Our schools also emphasise holistic development to fulfil our students’ potential, build skills and competencies, and nurture values that they will need for life.

But education is not just for the betterment of oneself. Our young Singaporeans must also make good use of what they have learnt, to help build a better future. I would like to encourage all of you to “Dream Big”, “Help Others”, and “Serve Our Nation”.  

First, Dream Big. With globalisation, there are many more opportunities for Singaporeans to live, study and work overseas. To discover new lands and cultures. To explore the unknown, and carve out new paths to success. A solid educational foundation prepares our young to seize opportunities not just in Singapore, but anywhere in the world. As a SAP school, Dunman High has nurtured many students who are effectively bilingual and bicultural. Speaking both English and Mandarin well and being able to bring together the best of the East and the West will help us to capitalise on opportunities in the region and beyond. 

Second, Help Others, especially those who are less fortunate. Meritocracy has been a cornerstone of Singapore society, where anyone who is prepared to work hard can succeed in life, regardless of family or financial circumstances. But those who have done well must remember that they did not succeed solely on their own effort, but have benefited from the help of others, whether their parents, teachers, friends or others, and the opportunities provided in our stable and harmonious Singapore. Our society can only progress if those who have done well remember to help others, especially those who are in need. I am glad that Dunman High has retained a traditional feature of SAP schools, placing emphasis on the inculcation of strong moral values. The school motto sets out the values of honesty, trustworthiness, moral courage and loyalty (诚，信，勇，忠), and provides the moral compass to guide students in their daily lives. 

And finally, Serve Our Nation. Even as Singaporeans look to the world for opportunities, I hope you will also find your own ways to serve our nation meaningfully. Only then can we build on the strong foundation that our Pioneers have created for us, and make Singapore an even better home for all of us. I am happy to see that Dunman High students are already contributing to Singapore in different ways. For example, during this year’s Singapore HeritageFest, Year 2 students interacted with the residents in Dakota Crescent estate, led tours through the estate, and shared its history with other Singaporeans and tourists. Students have also participated in projects such as “Adopt Geylang River” with PUB and “Return a Tray Project” with NEA to raise awareness of environmental issues. These are just a few examples of how our students are serving our nation, and I encourage all of you to do more for Singapore in the years to come. 

Conclusion
 
In its first 60 years, Dunman High School has done very well to produce citizens who are caring, willing to serve, and able to lead. I congratulate Dunman High School, and wish the school leaders, staff, parents, alumni and students continued progress in the years ahead. May you continue to Dream big, Help others and Serve our nation for many more years to come.

Thank you very much.