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ONE of Singapore’s success stories – that was what Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew called ITE when he visited ITE College East, ITE’s first comprehensive college, on 21 February 2008.
Speaking to reporters who were there to cover the event, MM Lee commented: “I think it (ITE) is one of the success stories of Singapore that we are able to uplift the academically less-advantaged 25 per cent and use their other skills, hands-on skills and ability to improvise, to give them that added value so that they can make a contribution to life, to society and to make a good living.”
He also said that ITE had done a good job, producing a number of graduates who have become successful entrepreneurs and businessmen.
It was the Minister Mentor’s first visit to an ITE College, making it a historic event for ITE. He was accompanied by his wife, Member of the Council of Presidential Advisers and former Chief Justice, Mr Yong Pung How, and Minister of State for Education and Manpower, Mr Gan Kim Yong.
In the two-and-a-half hour visit, MM Lee toured the College’s facilities, had a discussion session with ITE’s senior management and viewed award-winning student projects. He also chatted candidly with many ITE students, on subjects such as the schools they had studied in, the distance they had to travel to their ITE campuses and their plans for the future.
For Higher Nitec in Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Design student Ngo Yung Tat, who did a presentation and demonstration on his ‘Walking Ladder’ project together with his teammate, Tan Yee Ling, meeting MM Lee was a memorable experience.
Shared Yung Tat: “I was quite nervous when it was my turn to present my project, but I soon relaxed because both MM and Mrs Lee were very approachable and showed interest in what we do. Mrs Lee, in particular, showed keen interest in my ‘Walking Ladder’. She asked a lot of questions on how the ladder worked, and even suggested that I patent the invention, fast!” |
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