A very good evening to all of you.
2. Thank you for all the wonderful work you have done all these years and for playing your part to uplift students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
3. You may wonder why Singapore pushes for a whole-of-society effort in supporting persons from disadvantaged backgrounds. When I was the Minister for Family and Social Development, many people have asked why the government designed the system such that the government, through taxpayers' monies, would fund 90% of the costs of running social services, and still require the community to raise the last 10%.
4. We do this because we believe in inculcating a spirit of contributing and giving back to society. It is not just about a good life that we have, the good progress, it is also to remind ourselves that regardless of our station in life, all of us have a responsibility to look out and care for one another.
5. Growing up in a single parent family, I have benefited from the whole-of-community support system in our education landscape.
6. This was possible because of the many people before me who have paid it forward and contributed back to society. We hope to build a society where every Singaporean is confident that they will have the best chance to succeed in life, regardless of their station in life. We also want to remind every generation of Singaporeans that they stand on the shoulders of those before them, and that they, too, should pay it forward and enable future generations of Singaporeans to do better than them.
7. In Singapore, we hope to distinguish ourselves not by how successful we have been able to be in this generation. But in Singapore, we always hope to distinguish ourselves by how we enable the next generation to do even better than the last.
8. Having walked through this journey, as a beneficiary of the system, as the former minister in charge of social and family development, and now the minister in charge of education, I will say that in every society it is very easy for us to contribute our "treasures". But I hope we can mobilise Singaporeans, friends of Singapore, fans of Singapore to also contribute not just their treasures, but their time and talent. The most valuable gift that we can give our children goes beyond the money that you have contributed. The most important gift that you have given them is hope.
9. And for every child from less privileged backgrounds, giving them the sense of hope can help them walk out of the dark valley of life and lead a better life than the previous generation.
10. I encourage everyone to step forward and contribute your talent, time and treasures, and to play a part in uplifting those who need greater support. I hope that you will join us in this journey to distinguish Singaporeans by our generosity and support for fellow Singaporeans. Thank you very much.