News

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean

and Mrs Teo

Minister for Education Heng Swee Keat

Chairman and Members of the Public Service Commission

Ladies and Gentlemen

 

Good evening. Every year, the President’s Scholarship is awarded to outstanding young Singaporeans who are committed to public service. Recipients of the President’s Scholarship represent the best in their cohort, and display exceptional qualities beyond academic achievements – servant leadership, uprightness of character and a steadfast drive to improve the lives of others in the community.

2015 President’s Scholars

This evening, four outstanding young men and women have pledged to give their utmost for the continued success of our nation. They are Miss Lim Shu Qi Clara, Miss Lim Tze Etsuko, Second Lieutenant Russell Ewe Yuhang and Probationary Inspector Tan Kuan Hian.

Clara will be the first President’s Scholarship recipient in nine years to read Engineering. Etsuko will read Law and join the Singapore Legal Service upon graduation. Russell will be serving in the Singapore Armed Forces and Kuan Hian in the Singapore Police Force. Russell will be reading Politics and Philosophy, and Kuan Hian Liberal Arts.

I congratulate each of you on being recognised by the Public Service Commission for your leadership potential, commitment to service and strong desire to contribute to Singapore’s prosperity and progress.

I would also like to acknowledge your families, principals, teachers and friends for their continued support, and their roles in developing your potential and shaping your character and values.

Beyond SG50: What Lies Ahead

A few days ago, we came together as one people to celebrate Singapore’s 50th year of independence. It was a remarkable milestone for our nation.

We have much to be proud of – a strong SAF that protects our country’s sovereignty; an effective Home Team that keeps our community safe; and an education system that is highly praised worldwide. We have a thriving economy which continues to attract foreign investments, and we are a leading hub for innovation, technology and entrepreneurship.

We have our pioneers to thank for Singapore’s achievements and success. With grit and determination, they overcame the odds and laid the foundation on which many of our accomplishments today are built. We must recognise that we are beneficiaries of the labour of our pioneers, and that we are responsible for continuing to improve Singapore for future generations. We must not, and cannot rest on our laurels, despite what we have achieved.

Leading Singapore to an Even Brighter Future

As recipients of the President’s Scholarship, you carry the important mission of continuing the legacy of our forefathers, and leading Singapore to greater heights. In a more diverse Singapore society, you will need a discerning mind, to think critically through the issues and challenges confronting Singapore and our people, and to formulate policies which will serve the interests of Singaporeans. You must engage and understand citizens at all levels, encourage and harness new ideas to serve the people, and place the nation’s continued progress as your top priority.

The responsibilities placed on you are high and I encourage you to seize every opportunity to do good, especially towards those who are less privileged. Beyond achieving economic success for our country, lead by example in building a caring society.

In all that you do, remember to uphold the principles which undergird our Public Service – Integrity, Service and Excellence.

Conclusion

You have come in a long tradition of President’s Scholars, so many of whom have done us proud with their achievements in the universities they went to and in their Civil Service careers.

By accepting the President’s Scholarship today, you have also accepted the responsibility that goes with it.

We hope that you will preserve and protect the best of what has made the Public Service and our nation strong, while innovating and improving so that the Service stays relevant to serving Singapore into the future.

Clara, Etsuko, Russell and Kuan Hian - I am confident that you will live up to the expectations placed on you and contribute to bringing Singapore to greater heights.

Thank you.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, MINISTER IN CHARGE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, COORDINATING MINISTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AND MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR TEO CHEE HEAN AT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION SCHOLARSHIPS AWARD CEREMONY ON 21 JULY 2015, 6.40PM AT GRAND COPTHORNE WATERFRONT HOTEL GRAND BALLROOM

 

Mr Eddie Teo, Chairman of the Public Service Commission

 

Members of the PSC

 

Distinguished Guests

 

Parents, Ladies and Gentlemen

 

1.         Good evening. First of all, congratulations to the 75 scholarship recipients at today’s PSC Scholarships Award Ceremony. I also congratulate your families, principals and teachers whose support and guidance have been instrumental in helping you to develop and to grow.  

 

Building on the Foundations Laid by Our Pioneers

 

2.         This year marks the 50th year of our nation’s independence. In the past 50 years, our public officers have worked closely with our political leadership and Singaporeans in our nation-building journey – from Third World to First. From living in cramped conditions in squatter settlements, and in kampungs without sanitation and utilities in our early days, building one flat every 50 minutes, to arrive at our modern public housing estates today. Building one school a month in the early years, and gradually improving the quality of our teachers so that our students receive a good education that prepares them for further education and the job market. Attracting investments and creating good job opportunities for Singaporeans, bringing unemployment down from 10% in 1965, to 2% today. Cleaning up crime and corruption to have a safe and secure Home. Having our sovereignty protected by a nascent Singapore Armed Forces with the first batch of full-time National Servicemen called up and officers commissioned in 1967, to the capable, internationally respected armed forces today.

 

3.         The work of our public officers has transformed the lives of Singaporeans – bringing peace, progress and prosperity. Compared to our early years, Singaporeans today enjoy a better standard of living, have better-paying jobs in a more diversified economy, and feel safer and more secure as they go about their daily lives.

 

4.         All this would not have been possible without able, honest and dedicated public officers – serving in and leading the Public Service. Because our Pioneer and subsequent generations of public officers painstakingly built up the values, systems, processes and infrastructure in the Service, we now have an effective, efficient and trusted Public Service that is well-regarded at home and abroad. Leaders and officials from other countries are keen to understand how we do things in the Singapore Public Service, and see what they can adapt and apply to their own countries.

 

5.         But our Public Service cannot stand still. The Public Service is continually seeking to improve, to be more effective, to serve Singaporeans better, working with political leaders and Singaporeans to create a brighter future together. This is the cornerstone of our nation-building journey and why we are in the Public Service – putting Singaporeans at the centre of all that we do.

 

Building an Even Better Public Service for the Future

 

6.         50 years on, the issues that we face today are different, but no less challenging. How can we take better care of the less fortunate to ensure that all Singaporeans benefit from the fruits of development? How can we help Singaporeans to deepen their skills throughout life, and not just while in school? How do we overcome our resource constraints, and turn vulnerabilities into strengths? How do we take care of our aging population and support Singaporeans in their aspirations to raise a family? How do we restructure our economy and jobs to meet the aspirations of an increasingly well-educated population? We need to ask and answer questions like these, not just within the Public Service, but also more importantly through consultation and dialogue sessions like the “Our Singapore Conversation”, co-creating the policies and programmes with fellow Singaporeans. And working with them to make these programmes succeed for all.

 

7.         The Public Service continues to play a key role in this next phase of our nation-building journey. Whether we can continue to have a good Public Service for the next 50 years and beyond depends very much on whether we can continue to attract, develop and retain good people in the Service.

 

8.         The PSC scholarship remains an important channel to bring in young people who choose to become public officers at the start of their careers. And each year, PSC scholarships are awarded on merit, regardless of financial background, to deserving young men and women who demonstrate a commitment and passion to serve our country. The key tenet of meritocracy allows the Commission to select from among the young people every year who have the heart to serve Singapore who have the heart to serve Singapore and Singaporeans.

 

9.         From this year, we are unifying the PSC’s Overseas Merit Scholarship, Local-Overseas Merit Scholarship and Singapore Government Scholarship into a single “PSC Scholarship”. This is in line with the establishment of the Public Service Leadership Programme (PSLP) through which our officers with high potential, including our PSC scholarship recipients, will now be recruited. The PSC will focus on selecting candidates with a clear potential for the Public Service Leadership Programme or PSLP.

 

10.       PSLP officers in the General Phase will gain experience in different aspects of public sector work. Subsequently, some will proceed on the more sectorally specialised track of the PSLP, develop and grow deep domain expertise. Others will go on to the Administrative Service and take up cross-sectoral postings across the Public Service. This allows the Public Service to have a range of officers with skills that complement each other – some with deep domain expertise, while others have experience integrating whole-of-government policy and execution across sectors and agencies.

 

11.       Through development programmes and career opportunities provided under the PSLP, the Public Service will build up a core of officers and leaders who collectively have the depth and the breadth to tackle the more complex and inter-connected challenges facing Singapore. This will ensure that the Public Service is well-placed to serve Singaporeans in the years to come.

 

12.       But the PSC scholarship is only one channel to attract good people to join the Public Service. The Public Service welcomes all candidates who have the right skills, passion and motivation to serve Singaporeans. The PSLP draws from officers currently working in our Government agencies, people with prior work experience in the private sector, as well as fresh graduates seeking their first job. Indeed, these three groups accounted for a third of the officers appointed to the PSLP General Phase in 2014.

 

Preparing for the Future

 

13.       The PSLP and the changes to the PSC Scholarship are aimed at ensuring that we will continue to have a Public Service that is ready to tackle the challenges of the future. As this year’s scholarship recipients, you are joining the Public Service at an exciting time. We need public officers like you to analyse issues deeply, and develop innovative solutions; to understand Singaporeans’ needs better, and work with Singaporeans to develop better solutions; to work with one another, within your own ministries and agencies, and across the whole of government.

 

14.       In the work that you do, remember to uphold the Public Service values of Integrity, Service and Excellence. Remember that you have a responsibility to make the lives of Singaporeans better, to make Singapore better than what it is today, so that we can progress towards SG100 with hope and optimism.

 

15.       I wish you all the best as you embark on your studies, and look forward to your contributions when you return to serve in the Singapore Public Service.

 

16.       Congratulations. Thank you.

Deputy Prime Minister Mr Teo Chee Hean, Minister in charge of the Civil Service, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

1.     Welcome to the 2014 PSC Scholarships Award Ceremony. I would like to congratulate the 82 PSC scholarship recipients this year, who have been selected from a pool of over 2,500 applicants. I would like also to extend my congratulations to your families, principals and teachers who have nurtured and supported you.

Seeking the Right Values and Attributes

2.     As you have gone through PSC’s rigorous selection process, you will know that good academic results alone could not have brought you this far. Our experience has shown that candidates who do well only academically may not always make good public officers. Conversely, a person without straight ‘A’s can, with the right character, aptitude, hard work and good performance, excel in the Public Service.

3.     You are here today as the PSC believes that you have the values and attributes that make you a good fit for a Public Service career. These include commitment, integrity, empathy, leadership, people skills, and, above all, your strong desire to contribute to Singapore’s prosperity and progress and its people’s happiness.

4.     I hope that you will stand guided by these values and attributes as you embark on your journey as future public officers.

Talent from Diverse Backgrounds

5.     The PSC continues to reach out to talent from all backgrounds. This is important as we need a Public Service which appreciates and better serves the diverse needs of Singaporeans.

6.     I am glad that our scholarship recipients continue to come from a variety of schools. With us today are Miss Darshini Ramiah from School of the Arts (SOTA), Mr Gary Wong from Jurong Junior College, Mr Jared Kang from Temasek Polytechnic, and Miss Shina Chua from Nanyang Junior College. They will join the 2014 cohort and pursue their undergraduate studies locally and overseas.

7.     We have also been awarding scholarships to outstanding individuals from a variety of backgrounds. Miss Loh Jia Wei is one of the scholarship recipients today. Despite her physical limitations with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Jia Wei has shown great strength and resilience through her leadership and co-curricular achievements in school. She is also deeply passionate about Disability Rights in Singapore and volunteers with the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Singapore. Jia Wei is going to the University of Oxford to read Law.

8.     I thank the teachers and principals who have worked with us over the past year. Your honest and forthright views on the students you have nurtured are taken seriously and given important weightage by the PSC. The PSC values our partnerships with the schools and we look forward to your continued support in encouraging your students to consider a Public Service career.

Developing Scholarship Holders with Global Perspectives and Local Experiences

9.     As PSC scholarship recipients, you will be expected to address issues faced by Singapore and Singaporeans when you start work. These issues will involve not just a domestic perspective, but an understanding of global trends. Thus, regardless of which country you study in, you should seek out opportunities to learn from that country and expand your general knowledge.

10.   For those who will be studying in Singapore, do make use of the high quality global education our local institutions offer. NUS is ranked 2nd and NTU 11th in Asia by the Times Higher Education Report. Young local tertiary institutions such as SMU, SUTD and SIT also enhance the attractiveness and uniqueness of our local education. 

11.    The tie-ups that local universities have will allow you to go through more than one overseas experience during your course. You will be able to interact with peers of different nationalities and cultures, as well as experience life abroad, through exchange programmes.

12.    Being on home ground also means you have the opportunity to witness and better understand shifts in ground sentiments in Singapore. This will be essential for your work in the Public Service.

13.   I’m heartened to note that more scholarship recipients will be pursuing their undergraduate education in Singapore. In fact, one of them, Miss Lim Min, declined an opportunity to study overseas to pursue her undergraduate degree in History at the local Yale-NUS College because she believes the latter can also challenge her intellectually. Like Lim Min, 15 other recipients will pursue their undergraduate studies locally this year.

A Breadth of Knowledge and Experience

14.    A strong Public Service requires officers with a range of knowledge and experiences. Thus, the PSC continues to encourage and support scholarship recipients who head to non-traditional countries and who study a variety of disciplines.

15.    This year, the PSC awarded 16 scholarships for courses in science, mathematics and engineering, and 20 for those in humanities and social sciences. 

16.   I am encouraged that one of our recipients, Miss Niu Yihao, will be pursuing her undergraduate degree in International Liberal Studies at the Waseda University in Japan. In choosing the path less travelled, I am confident that Yihao will bring back unique experiences when she returns to start work in the Public Service.

Heart to Serve

17.    I am happy to see that a number of our new and current PSC scholarship recipients are showing a keen interest in community engagement.

18.    Miss Rachel Ker, one of the 2014 recipients, will be pursuing the undergraduate degree in Social Work at NUS. This is a natural extension of her passion for community engagement and volunteer work. During her time in school, Rachel served local communities such as the Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped, Ang Mo Kio Thye Hwa Kuan Hospital, and for the Methodist Children and Youth Centre Community Services.

19.     I hope our 2014 cohort will continue to serve the community during their studies and after they start work in the Public Service.

Conclusion 

20.   In closing, I would like to encourage our new scholarship holders to use the opportunity to broaden your perspectives and prepare yourself for your role as public officers, regardless of where or what you will be studying.

21.    Challenge yourself and go beyond your comfort zone. Take modules outside your core curriculum, explore study opportunities in unfamiliar terrain such as the emerging markets, be open to new ideas and make new friends. In all your endeavours, stand guided by the strong values that have seen you through life. How far you go later on will depend on you having the right attitudes and a strong values system.

22.     I am confident that you will gain many life experiences that will help you contribute meaningfully when you start to undertake complex responsibilities in the Public Service.

23.     Once again, my heartiest congratulations.

24.     Thank you.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and Mrs Teo
Minister Heng Swee Keat and Mrs Heng
Excellencies
Chairman and Members of the Public Service Commission
Ladies and Gentlemen

Good evening to all of you.

Introduction

Each year, the Public Service Commission awards scholarships to outstanding young men and women who want to serve Singapore and Singaporeans through a career in the Public Service. The most prestigious undergraduate scholarship awarded by the Commission is the President’s Scholarship. It is awarded to young Singaporeans who have the integrity and commitment to work for Singapore’s continued success. To receive a President's Scholarship, one must demonstrate more than just excellence in academic and non-academic pursuits. One must also show a strong ethos for public service, impeccable character, remarkable leadership and dedication towards improving the lives of Singaporeans.

2013 President's Scholars

This evening, the President’s Scholarship is awarded to five exceptional young individuals who have distinguished themselves based on their leadership capabilities and calibre, and their passion to bring the nation forward. They are Mr I Naishad Kai-ren, Miss Stephanie Siow Su Lyn, Mr Joshua Ebenezer Jesudason, Mr Yap Wei Hang Timothy and Mr Scott Ang Yiqiang.

Naishad and Stephanie have also been awarded the Public Service Commission Overseas Merit Scholarship. Joshua and Timothy have been concurrently awarded the Singapore Police Force Overseas Scholarship, and Scott, the Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship.

To the five of you, I would like to offer my heartiest congratulations.

Building a Shared Future for Singapore’s Continued Success

As we celebrate tonight the achievements of our President's Scholarship recipients, let us also remember where we started out. Singapore was built through the hard work of our forefathers, who themselves hailed from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Today, our diversity remains key in securing our continued success.

Being a small, open economy, we will constantly be exposed to external threats and challenges. In addition, as our society matures, we will face new issues and opportunities. To tackle the challenges and grasp the opportunities, we will need a Singapore that is not only able and nimble, but one which can leverage on the diverse strengths of its people to move forward. For this reason, we need a continuous stream of capable, dedicated leaders at all levels of society. These leaders need to have the ability to harness the varied strengths of Singaporeans from all walks of life.

As recipients of the President’s Scholarship, you bear a heavy responsibility. Your peers and fellow Singaporeans will look to you for such leadership to bring Singapore forward. Beyond excellence in your academics and careers, each of you will have to work hard to nurture both unity and diversity in society. You will need to build a strong sense of national identity, while appreciating differences across cultures and countries. The policies you create and implement must be done not in an ivory tower, but through strong connections and engagement with the community.

By tapping on the collective wisdom and experiences of our different communities, we can build a better shared future for ourselves, our families and our fellow Singaporeans.

Conclusion

I would like to applaud the efforts of the families, principals, teachers and friends of our new President’s Scholarship recipients. You have played an integral role in moulding their character, values and sense of service. Their accomplishments today bear testimony to the remarkable work you have done.

My congratulations, once again, to Naishad, Stephanie, Joshua, Timothy and Scott for being awarded the President’s Scholarship. Tonight marks a new chapter in your lives. I am certain that all of you will live up to, if not exceed, the high hopes we have placed on you to do Singapore proud. I wish you success in your journey ahead and look forward to you serving with distinction when you begin your careers in the Public Service.

Thank you.