Speech by Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Health, at “Intergenerational Learning Programme End-of-Course Celebration”, 20 October

Ms Soh Swee Peng, CEO, Council for Third Age

Dr Goh Mong Song, Principal, ITE College West

Mr Leng Chin Fai, Executive Director, Fei Yue Community Services

Ladies and Gentlemen

1.     Good afternoon. I am happy to be here with you today at the Intergenerational Learning Programme (ILP) End-of-Course Celebration, jointly organised by the Council for Third Age (C3A), ITE College West and Family Central.

2.     I would like to congratulate everyone here on your successful completion of the ILP, and on the new knowledge and friendships that you have gained.

Embracing Longevity through Active Ageing and Lifelong Learning

3.     Under the Action Plan for Successful Ageing, MOH has worked with MOE to establish the National Silver Academy, to enable seniors to pursue learning in diverse areas, and learn for the sake of learning. When we were developing ideas for the Action Plan, we asked Singaporeans what successful ageing meant to them. Many seniors told us they wanted to use their golden years to keep learning, not only for work but also for learning’s sake, and to keep their minds active. Many seniors also shared with us that they did not have the chance to have a proper education when they were younger, and so now that they have the time and are able to, they would like to go back to school. Hence, the National Silver Academy was born in May this year. It is a network of post-secondary education institutions (PSEIs) and community based organisations that offer a variety of learning opportunities to seniors.

Intergenerational Learning Programme

4.     The ILP is one of the key learning opportunities provided under the National Silver Academy. Not only does it allow seniors to acquire new knowledge and skills,  it also promotes inter-generational bonding between students and seniors.

5.     I am heartened to hear that seniors and their junior student buddies thoroughly enjoyed these fun learning experiences. One such example is 62-year-old Madam Skye Wee who was paired up with ITE student, 16-year-old Cynthia Ng to learn gardening tips and techniques. Madam Wee shared that the students were very passionate, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Learning with them made her feel young and revitalised. Cynthia, on her part, was impressed by how passionate Madam Wee was about learning. Madam Wee was so enthused after attending this programme that she has already signed up for another NSA course! Indeed, our silver years can be exciting and adventurous, if we are willing and open minded enough to explore.

6.     In addition to the ILP, seniors can also take short courses through the National Senior Academy across a wide range of areas such as health and wellness, IT and science, art and design. You can also attend exam-free modules, which are classes that the ITEs, polytechnics and public-funded universities have opened up to seniors. For a token fee, seniors can attend these courses alongside younger full-time students, without the stress of taking exams.

7.     I am happy to share that over 4,800 seniors have signed up to learn and stay active since we launched the National Silver Academy earlier this year. Some of the popular courses include Digital Photography, Computer Maintenance and Financial Planning for Retirement. In addition to the courses available till the end of this year, I am happy to announce that a new batch of learning opportunities from January to June 2017 will be released in the middle of next month on the National Silver Academy website, adding more than 700 course titles offering more than 14,000 learning places. I encourage all seniors to explore the various learning opportunities we have for your personal growth and fulfilment. 

Conclusion

8.     Ultimately, ensuring that Singapore remains a good place to grow old in will require a concerted, whole-of-society approach. Therefore, I would like to commend ITE College West, Family Central, and the Council for Third Age for stepping up to offer learning opportunities for seniors. For the seniors here with us today – while today marks the last session of your ILP workshops, I hope it is not the end of your learning journey. I encourage seniors to continue your learning journey with the National Silver Academy. For our student buddies, thank you for all your efforts to make your silver buddies feel at ease. I hope you will become ambassadors for lifelong learning, and spread the word on these opportunities to your older family members.

9.     With the concerted efforts of everyone, I believe we can continue to explore new challenges, embrace lifelong learning and enjoy our silver years.