Mr Chan Wai Leong, Deputy Chairman of AWWA,
Mr Karthik, Chief Executive Officer of AWWA,
Clients of AWWA CIS, family members, friends and partners,
Ladies and gentlemen,
1. A very good afternoon to everyone. Thank you so much for having me today. Such a delight to see everyone, and very delighted to join you in recognising our outstanding youths who overcame their adversities to achieve excellence, as well as their family members, friends and educators who stood by their side. Congratulations, first of all, to the 27 award recipients today! Your stories of perseverance and unconditional support serve as a wellspring of inspiration to all of us here today.
2. The AWWA Community Integration Service (CIS) Awards are testament to the fact that every individual, regardless of their different abilities, has the potential to achieve remarkable heights if we, as a society, believe in them and support them in getting there.
3. I am heartened by the contributions of community partners that complement the Ministry of Education (MOE)'s efforts in ensuring that all students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) can fulfil their potential. In this regard, AWWA has always been a much-cherished partner to MOE.
4. Started in 1991 and formerly known as TEACH ME, AWWA's CIS supports the integration of children and youth with physical disabilities and low vision into their schools and community. In the past year alone, AWWA has conducted over 700 school visits, and over 3000 home intervention sessions. AWWA personnel have demonstrated dedication and professionalism, working closely alongside our teachers to ensure that our children and youth are able to access learning and new experiences to the fullest extent.
5. AWWA's efforts have also helped MOE's educators in mainstream schools remain equipped with the know-how in supporting students with SEN, and promoting an inclusive environment where students of all abilities can learn and play together. These efforts have indeed been invaluable in the professional development of our teachers, and AWWA was conferred the Partner of Academy of Singapore Teachers Award last year in recognition of its contributions. Congratulations, AWWA.
6. At MOE, we recognise that the integration of persons with additional needs is a never-ending endeavour. We are continuously reviewing our support for students with SEN in both mainstream schools and Special Education (SPED) schools to provide them with a learning environment that suitably prepares them for work and life. Some of you may not be aware that 80% of our students with SEN are in mainstream schools, and as we promote inclusivity, we do want as many of our students to be integrated in our mainstream schools, although some are best sited in SPED schools because we do not want them to be placed in an environment that is detrimental to their development.
7. So, in fact, if you would have known, we just concluded our two-day SPED Learning Fest this morning, and yesterday, I announced some very good news, especially for the teachers, increase in salaries and everything else. So, we just ended the festival this morning, which brought together educators, Social Service Agencies and other key stakeholders to celebrate good practices in SPED schools and exchange professional knowledge. This is part of MOE's effort to equip the fraternity to better support SPED students and prepare them for work and life.
8. In closing, let me emphasise that building an inclusive Singapore is a collective responsibility that all of us must undertake and give our students with SEN the chance to show what they are capable of, and what we, as a society, are capable of. As much as we always talk about their capabilities and abilities, we should always ask and question ourselves: what are our capabilities, what are our abilities? And in embracing them, integrating them, and making sure that they feel valued in our society, sometimes, we don't take time to reflect on ourselves. So, if you would have heard the Forward Singapore exercise that was concluded last week and the report came out, key essence of the Forward Singapore exercise and the future of Singapore is really each of us taking personal responsibility in building the society that we have. This is why I am heartened that every one of you here has played a very integral role in advancing this vision of an inclusive society that we all would like to realise one day.
9. To all the students receiving awards today, I encourage you to remember those who were there for you as you overcame your challenges to attain your achievements today. And certainly, I am sure you will continue to work very hard to achieve higher heights. We are always a work-in-progress. And to all family members, friends, educators and partners, I hope that you will continue to lend your unwavering support to our students to help them unlock their fullest potential even as they move forward to the next phase in their journey.
10. My heartiest congratulations to everyone and thank you so much for having me today to join in this wonderful celebration. Thank you.