I am pleased to join you this afternoon to share the achievements of outstanding students in the SINDA Tutorial for Enhanced Performance programme or STEP for short.
SINDA introduced the STEP tuition programme to help our Indian students do well better in school. Many students who went through the STEP programme are now in institutions of higher learning, at ITE, Polytechnics and the Universities.
Today, 34 students will be receiving the STEP Award. The STEP Award recognises significant improvements made by STEP students in the school examinations. Through determination and hard work, these students have done better in their studies. My congratulations to all the award winners. Keep up the good work.
The enrollment of students in STEP has increased each year. 3000 students have enrolled in STEP in 1999 - the highest since the start of the programme. For Primary One alone, 450 students have enrolled in STEP. This is about 10% of the total Indian pupils' cohort in Primary One.
The continued growth of the STEP tuition programme reflects the quality of the programme. This is made possible by the dedication and commitment of the STEP centre principals and tutors. I understand some principals and tutors have been in the programme since it started in 1992. I would like to commend you for your steadfast support and contribution for the Community.
The education system is undergoing several important changes. We are now moving towards an ability-driven paradigm with increasing focus on the individual. We want each of our students to have the opportunity to develop their potential to the fullest. More resources will be allocated to schools to provide even closer attention to nurture our students. is is especially important now when several changes are taking place in our education system. By next year, MOE will deploy an additional 400 teachers more teachers will be sent at our to schools. Almost half of all primary and secondary schools can expect to see an increase in the number of their teaching staff - some schools will have as many as, ranging from one to twelve more teachers. The schools computerisation programme, or the IT Master plan for schools, is already in full swing. The objective is to have an overall ratio of one computer to every two students by the year 2002.
I am pleased to note know that SINDA has made its own set of changes to its programmes to complement the changes announced by MOE. These include the modular revision tuition programme for Secondary students, equipping Indian students with skills on exam preparation, techniques for handling exam questions, motivation and studying smart techniques. Parents are also provided a helping hand through workshops and seminars on motivating their children and helping their child cope with schoolwork and examinations. ensure Indian pupils excel in school. These changes have allowed it to remain current and relevant to the needs of the pupils. For example, To provide help to children with poor reading skills, volunteers are sent to the children's home to read to them.
The untiring efforts of SINDA and other Indian Organisations towards ensuring the continued improvement of Indian students in education is commendable and clearly yielding resultschanges in SINDA's programmes are commendable as they complement MOE's efforts in bringing out the best in each child. They are aimed at ensuring that each child is equipped with the skills to not just pass, but pass well. In 1998, for example, among all Indian pupils who attempted PSLE, 44.1% qualified for the Special/Express streams in secondary school, compared to 37.2% in 1994. These results are a testimony to what we can achieve through self-help.
My congratulations once again to the award winners. You have done your families and teachers proud. As award winners, you will also have a positive influence on your peers and will grow up as self-assured and confident Singaporeans.
