Speech by Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Health and the Environment & Water Resources, at People’s Association Senior Academy Convocation 2017 on Friday, 28 July 2017

Mr Desmond Tan,

Chief Executive Director, People’s Association, 

Fellow Grassroots Leaders,

Our Senior Graduands and family members,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

INTRODUCTION

    I am delighted to be here this morning at the People’s Association (PA) Senior Academy Convocation 2017. Congratulations to our 500 graduands.  I would also like to commend their families for their encouragement and unwavering support of our graduands.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AGES

2    Since the PA Senior Academy programme started in 2015, more than 12,000 seniors have benefitted from the programme. I attended the inaugural convocation ceremony in 2015 and I am very happy to be here today to celebrate the commencement of all our graduands from both the Basic and Advance Certification programmes. Those on the Advanced Certification programme have gone on to further their interest by specialising in areas such as ‘Food & Beverage’, ‘Health & Wellness’, and ‘Craftworkz’.

3    I encourage those on the Basic Certification programme to consider doing so. The spirit of learning burns brightly in all of you and you are an example for us to continue learning and pursuing our interests.

4    I am also heartened to hear that you have used what you have learnt to give back to the community, through your community service projects. An example is Madam Suriati Binte Budiman, a resident of Hong Kah North constituency.  With strong encouragement from her family, Suriati first took up the Basic Certification programme in 2016 after her neighbour introduced her to it at Gek Poh Ville Community Club (CC).  She then took on the Advanced Certification programme, which included a community service project where she and her cohort mates applied what they had learnt in their ‘F&B’ course to whip up a sumptuous dinner for the less privileged in the community.

LONGEVITY IS OPPORTUNITY

5    Seniors such as Mdm Suriati are our role models for active ageing. While Singapore’s population is ageing rapidly, we are also staying healthy for longer. Our golden years can continue to be a period of opportunity and achievement, if we stay active, engaged and make the most out of it. Indeed, learning does not stop once we graduate from school, but is a lifelong activity that provides many benefits throughout our lifetime, including stimulating our minds and keeping us mentally alert and active.  Therefore, it is also important that we continue to create learning experiences that are suitable for the learning needs of our seniors.

INTER-GENERATIONAL LEARNING

6    I am pleased that PA has been designing and co-creating courses with corporate and community partners to meet the learning needs and aspirations of the course participants.

7    One good example is the first 3-day 2-night Senior Academy Learning Journey @ NUS programme, co-created by PA and the College of Alice & Peter Tan, NUS (NUS-CAPT).  The programme enabled a group of about 40 seniors from the Advanced Certification programme to experience undergraduate life at NUS.  The seniors shared that it was a dream which many of them had, but did not have the opportunity to fulfil in their younger days.  In fact, I was told that our seniors, together with the students from NUS-CAPT, played a part in designing the curriculum of the programme.

8    One senior participant who attended this residential programme is Mr Tay Meng Huat from Teck Ghee CC.  Mr Tay felt that he had gained much from attending the various PA Senior Academy courses, from the Basic Certification to the Advanced Certification and the ‘Seniors for Smart Nation’ courses. As such, he even encouraged his wife and brother-in-law to take up the Basic Certification programme. Today, all three of them are graduating together!  

MORE COURSES IN THE PIPELINE

9    The PA Senior Academy has received good support and feedback, and are very encouraged by what the seniors have achieved. I am very happy to note that PA will be doing even more. With the increasing popularity of the ‘Seniors for Smart Nation’ courses amongst our seniors, a ‘Basic Certificate in Seniors for Smart Nation’ will be launched in November 2017. Participants can take up new IT-related courses that will prepare seniors to manage IT gadgets and keep them connected to the latest IT trends. Graduands will also have the opportunity to become interest group leaders or members and share their knowledge with other seniors.

CURIOUS, CONFIDENT, COMMUNITY OF LIFELONG LEARNERS

10    To all our graduands, I commend you for continuing to learn new knowledge and I am sure that it was been an interesting journey of learning and self-discovery. While you have graduated from the programme, this journey of learning is a lifelong endeavour. I would therefore like to encourage you to adopt the 3 ‘Cs’.  Be Curious about new things that are happening around you.  Be Confident to take the first step to learn or pursue your interest. Last but not least – Be part of the Community of Lifelong Learners by joining any of PA’s programmes, activities and interest groups to meet like-minded residents, make new friends, and have fun learning together.

CONCLUSION

11    Once again, congratulations to our graduands! Let us all embrace longevity, keep this vibrant learning spirit alive, and inspire more to join the community of lifelong learning! Thank you.