Comrade Yunos Bin Awang, President of NTWU
Comrade Fang Chin Poh, General Secretary of NTWU
Comrade Ong Ah Heng, Executive Secretary of NTWU
Executive Committee Members of NTWU
Distinguished Guests
Fellow Comrades
Students and Parents
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good morning to all of you.
Scholarship Awards
1 I am very happy to be with you today at NTWU’s 24th Annual Scholarship and Bursary Awards presentation ceremony. NTWU is one of our unions that has been giving scholarships and bursaries to the children of union members annually.
2 This year, 319 children of NTWU union members, who range from primary to tertiary levels, will receive $99,250 worth of scholarship and bursary awards. It is encouraging to know that NTWU and our unions have always assisted its members through this means. NTUC has always firmly believed that by investing in the education and training of our members’ children, we are helping them and their families to improve their standard of living.
3 A very good example of this would be fourth year medical student Alvin Ong, who is seated among the award recipients today. Coming from a family with a simple background, receiving such scholarships has spurred him on to continue striving for academic excellence. He has been receiving the NTWU scholarship every year since he was in Primary Six. And over the years, the scholarship has helped with his family’s financial commitments. Until today, the financial incentive is still going a long way in providing for his study needs and helping him acquire medical instruments for his academic practice.
4 Even in NTUC headquarters, we have at least three staff who had received scholarships from the unions when they were studying because their parents were union members.
For Students
5 To the students who are present here today to receive the scholarship or bursary awards, I hope that you will remember your parents’ contributions and their perseverance in ensuring that you all get the best education possible. Without them, you will not be where you are now.
6 Unlike students in the past, our students today are a fortunate lot. Our schools have made a lot of changes. Newly developed programmes over the years have allowed our students to be exposed to a variety of different experiences. Moreover, they are given the opportunity in school to fully develop their potential, pursue their respective areas of interest, and in the process, develop their self-confidence and interact freely with friends of different races and backgrounds.
7 In our present school curriculum, the schools provide teachers with tools to help them empower and engage students in active learning, and not just passive learning. May I urge all of you as students, to take this opportunity to develop yourselves and fulfill your potential, in both academic and non-academic areas.
8 On this note, I wish to commend NTWU for having the heart to look after the welfare of their members families and children, and thank them for inviting me to this event. I wish all award recipients a bright future ahead.
Thank you.
