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Sharing with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong...
“… the Secrets of My Success”

by Rosemary Pang & Mohd Jailani Nathan

IT really does not matter where you start from, for as long as you aspire to do well, you would be able to succeed. Two successful ITE graduates who live up to this maxim - Mr Sairin b Sani, 27, and Mr Eric Chen Boon Khai, 31 – had the rare chance of sharing their story with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong when he visited ITE College Central (MacPherson Campus) on 2 August 2005. The visit to ITE aimed at providing PM Lee with insights into the ITE teaching and learning environment.

Accompanied by Minister for Education, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Permanent Secretary for Education, LG (NS) Lim Chuan Poh, PM Lee toured the MacPherson Campus’ teaching facilities and interacted with ITE lecturers and students.

Benefitting from a Unique Brand of Education
As he sat down to lunch with ITE graduates, Sairin and Eric, PM Lee listened to the views of the younger generation on Singapore’s education system and, in particular, their ITE experience. Both graduates shared how they have benefitted from ITE’s unique brand of education; their shining records, testimonies of how ITE has provided opportunities for further education and employability.

An impressed Sairin said: “PM listened intently as I told him how the ITE’s emphasis on ‘hands-on’ training had suited me well. PM took interest, as I talked to him about my learning journey, aspirations and the challenges faced. When PM asked me about how the education system in schools could be improved, I responded by saying that students could be given greater exposure to industry and the real world of work. Just sitting there and talking to him made me feel so small, but proud at the same time. PM Lee is truly the people’s Prime Minister.”

Gaining a Firm Footing in Life
Eric, who holds a Master’s Degree in Communications and Signal Processing from Imperial College, London, was equally awed by PM Lee’s presence. He, too, had a rocky start. He shared with PM how he was expelled in Secondary 3 for his truancy and later found a job as a part-time waiter before deciding to re-take his GCE ‘O’ levels as a private candidate.

“Enrolling in ITE’s Nitec in Electronics course was a turning point in my life. It was in ITE that I began to do well, and this gave me back my self-confidence. I shared with PM on how the ITE lecturers had inspired me tremendously, and how I’ve regained my self-esteem while in ITE,” revealed Eric, who also made known his reasons behind a teaching career in ITE during the conversation with PM.

Added Eric: “Initially, I was apprehensive, as I did not know how PM would react to my life story, considering the many negative aspects. But he made me feel at ease.” Eric’s turnaround story impressed PM enough for him to highlight Eric in his recent National Day Rally speech to drive home the message that opportunities are abound in ITE.

In his National Day Rally Speech, PM Lee said that the Government’s aim would be to offer a first-class education to all and not just an elite few. PM Lee also said: “The Singapore education system will provide many avenues to suit different needs, with many routes up and many ways to succeed.” As shown by the likes of Eric and Sairin.