Message by Mr. Chee Hong Tat, Minister for Transport, Second minister for Finance and CDAC Board Member for the CDAC Character and Learning Awards
SINGAPORE DISCOVERY CENTRE, DISCOVERY HALL, LEVEL 1
Our Award Recipients
Parents and Family Members
I am delighted to join you today at the CDAC Character and Learning Awards Ceremony. Let me first begin by congratulating all our 309 students receiving awards today.
The character development of our students is at the heart of our education system and serves a critical role in the holistic development of our students. Many of our students with us today exemplify core values such as respect, resilience and care in their day to day lives. This is why the CDAC had changed the name of the award last year, to better reflect the growth of our students beyond academic excellence, and recognize their strength of character and the values they uphold.
Today, I want to share two inspiring stories:
First is the story of Caleb. Caleb faced some health challenges over the past two years, but he was determined not to let it affect his studies. He wanted to make his parents proud and remained motivated to do well, maintaining a positive spirit despite having to go through many challenging days. Caleb is awarded the Good Progress and the Character & Learning Disposition Awards today. Congratulations Caleb!
Another example is Celine. Celine would always check in on her classmates when they are absent from school and would share with them her notes and keep them updated on the assignments that need to be done. She takes pictures of the important points taught in class and sends them to her classmates who are absent, so that they can catch up with the lesson when they feel better. Celine is receiving the Character & Learning Disposition Award today. Keep up the good work, Celine!=
As we celebrate the achievements of our students today, we must also not forget the tutors, parents and family members who have nurtured and supported our students. With your continued support, our students will go on to accomplish even greater things.
Let me conclude with a message to our students. As you continue your education journey, I encourage you to keep an open mind, be curious, and be willing to step out of your comfort zones. And importantly, I hope you will also pay it forward by helping others in need, so that they too can achieve what you have achieved today. In this way, we build a more caring and inclusive society in Singapore, for this generation and future generations of Singaporeans.
Once again, congratulations to all award winners! I wish you a happy celebration with your loved ones. Thank you.