Official Opening Of Blangah Rise Primary School

04 Jul 2001

By Mr Lim Hng Kiang

Venue: Blangah Rise Primary School

Mrs Angelina Thng, Principal, Blangah Rise Primary School

Mr William Teh, Chairman, School Advisory Committee, staff, students and guests of Blangah Rise Primary

It is my pleasure to join you at the Official Opening of Blangah Rise Primary School.

Blangah Rise Primary School was founded in 1977. After using the old school premises for just slightly more than two decades, we have now shifted to a brand new school, at a cost of $12.8 m. The new school will give our students a very substantial improvement in the facilities and amenities. This shows our commitment to invest in the education of our young. To give them a well-rounded education, to build up their character and to inculcate strong values and good habits.

Our schools play a very important role in encouraging healthy lifestyle habits in our children from an early age. A healthy child is more likely to grow up to be a healthy adult. This evening, I would like to focus on 2 particular areas, namely obesity and myopia. Let me elaborate.

Targeting Obesity

Obesity is a key area which my Ministry has been focusing on. It is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases later in life. 25 years ago, malnutrition was a problem in Singapore, and at that time, children had to be provided with milk powder supplements. Today, we face a very different form of malnutrition in our schools - about 10% of our primary and secondary students are obese. Of those who are obese, one third are severely overweight. We know that overweight children tend to grow up to be overweight adults. The 1998 National Health Survey showed that 6% of adults were obese based on obesity being defined as Body Mass Index yyyy 30. If we define obesity as BMI yyyy 25 to take into account the Asian body frame, then it is estimated that the obesity level among our adults is 30%. We have set a 2010 target to keep the proportion of obese adults below the current level. This means that the strategies to keep excessive weight gain in check have to start from an early age.

To keep the level of obesity in school children low, we promote physical fitness and encourage healthy eating habits in school. The Trim and Fit (TAF) programme is a programme run by the Ministry of Education and closely supported by the School Health Service (SHS). It has been implemented in schools with the aim of improving physical fitness and reducing the percentage of overweight students. Since its launch in 1992, the prevalence of obesity in school children has decreased from 14% to 10%. We should try to do better. This means closer monitoring of the students' weight-height status. We also need greater involvement of parents in the TAF programme.

Myopia

Myopia is another area of key concern. The prevalence of myopia in Singapore is increasing rapidly and large numbers of our children are becoming myopic at a younger age. In 1990, one in five Primary One students suffered from myopia. By 2000, the prevalence of myopia had increased to one in three Primary One students. By the time the students reached Primary Six, almost two-thirds of them will be myopic. Not only are more students developing myopia at a younger age, the rate of progression of the condition is also worsening. Currently, 1.5% of primary 1 students have very poor eyesight. This increases to 10% for primary 6 students and 16% for secondary 4 students.

Myopia may appear as an inconvenience to most people. However, severe myopia is associated with potentially blinding conditions such as retinal macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataract. In fact, myopia is one of the 5 leading causes of blindness in the world. Furthermore, blindness from myopia tends to strike individuals during their most productive years.

Preventing and controlling myopia is not an easy task as both environmental and genetic factors are involved in the development and progression of myopia. To reduce the prevalence of myopia among school children, the Ministry of Health will be working closely with the Health Promotion Board, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Community Development and Sports to develop a National Myopia Prevention Programme. The strategies involved will include intensifying health education on eye care, vision screening for the early detection of myopia and the setting up of a myopia registry. But the task of preventing and slowing down the progression of myopia cannot be left to the government alone. We need the active participation of parents and students if the programme is to succeed.

Conclusion

Finally, I would also like to highlight the importance of the school-community partnership. Such partnerships engender a sense of collaboration, commitment and collective ownership between the school and the community. Community involvement ensures that our children are not only striving for academic excellence but allows them to learn to serve the community. I am happy to note that Blangah Rise Primary School has been actively involved in developing school-community links. Its collaboration with the Telok Blangah CCC, such as the hosting of a Lunar New Year luncheon for the senior citizens and the pupil's monthly visits to the Henderson Moral Home have brought cheer to the residents in the area. Its involvement in the "Adopt a Park" scheme would not only teach the pupils to better appreciate nature, but would also hopefully encourage them to contribute to developing our garden city.

In conclusion, I would like to congratulate Blangah Rise Primary School for having done well in providing well-rounded education for the children of the Telok Blangah Community. I am confident that the school will continue to excel in its activities. I wish you all the best on the opening of your school.