23 February 2007

Msgr. Eugene Vaz, the Vicar General
Mr Lawrence da Silva, Chairman Board of Governors
Brother Michael Broughton, Brother President
Mr Andrew Bennett, Principal
Fellow Josephians, both new and old
Parents, teachers, guests
Ladies and Gentlemen


Like many of you, I feel happy and proud to be standing here today, on the grounds of SJI International for the school’s blessing and inaugural assembly. After the months of planning, hard work and prayer, SJI International is now a reality.

For this, I would like to congratulate the La Salle Brothers, the Board of Governors, Principal and staff of SJI International for their tremendous dedication and effort in moving this school from conception to reality within a short 9 months.

And I also congratulate the school for getting off to a very good start with things important for a new school put in place – a quality academic team and strong support from the community.

Good teachers are at the core of a strong school. Principal Andrew Bennett has built up a highly credible academic team, with tremendous experience not only in international education – which is important for an international school - but at the same time familiar with Singapore, our education system, and the region. This balance is important as SJI International is a special kind of international school which, while reaching out to the world, is at the same time rooted in Singapore. Andrew’s team is a good mix of local teachers, and teachers from different countries – Indonesia, Canada, the UK, Holland and Belgium. The diversity and strength of this team is set to increase as the school expands.

A good school also needs the support and nourishment of its community. On this count, SJI International has been very blessed. When SJI International was just an idea, it had already fired the imagination of many SJI old boys and supporters to step forward to contribute to the school building fund and to scholarships. Gratifying too is the support of Singapore society and the region for SJI International, with a number of corporations forking out their hard earned money to provide scholarships for our students.

This strong support will provide a solid foundation for SJI International to grow and develop.

My support for SJI International stems not only from a desire to give something back to my alma mater. I also see a need for greater diversity and pathways in Singapore’s education system, and in this regard, I believe that SJI, with its rich history, strong ethos, innovative spirit and good track record, has something important and unique to offer.

Singapore cannot afford to have its best and brightest schooled only in a few top schools and within the same system of education. Taking a leaf from nature, nurturing a diversity of talents among our young people is a key strategy for our society to adapt and thrive in our rapidly changing globalised world. The greater the diversity of backgrounds and talents, the better we will be able to respond and compete in this new world, in which our children will face new and as-yet-unknown technologies, industries and jobs.

I am confident that like SJI, SJI International can play an important role in developing future leaders of Singapore and the region.

In this regard, I would encourage parents to take that bold step, out of our familiar education system, to send their sons and daughters to different types of schools like SJI International.

As announced previously, SJI International is seeking authorization to conduct the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme for post-secondary students commencing 2008. The IB diploma is as an alternative to the GCE A Level qualification offered by junior colleges and widely recognized by top universities throughout the world.

Promising students will be able to compete for a limited number of post-secondary scholarships at SJI International in 2008. There will be 20 Leadership Council scholarships for Sec 4 students of SJI. For the other students, there will be up to 30 scholarships open to Singapore residents and another 15 scholarships for students from the region. These scholarships will be awarded in the second half of this year – before the ‘O’ Level results - and based on the student’s leadership qualities, past academic and CCA performance.

Together with fellow Josephians on the Leadership Council, I am happy to have played a small part in the establishment of SJI International.

The Leadership Council has brought together a good cross-section of SJI old boys (and not-so-old boys) from various sectors of our society, to support SJI International. For a start, members of the Leadership Council have together donated close to $1.2 million for school building and scholarships.

Going forward, there is much more that the Leadership Council and other SJI old boys can play in support of both SJI and SJI International. I would like to suggest two areas of support.

First, our old boys with their vast experiences, varied backgrounds and significant achievements should continue to provide advice and help to the two schools, should the need arises.

Second, they can help to prepare SJI and SJI International students for the real world through giving career talks, sharing life experiences, and providing mentorship and work attachments.

I shall take the lead by making myself available for talks and discussions with SJI and SJI International students when required. I have also suggested to the two schools to put together and circulate a list of email addresses of our old boys in various fields to their students. I have already given my email address to SJI and SJI International. All Josephians are free to drop me an email any time they need advice or guidance in areas that I can be of assistance in, whether it is future career options, or university choices etc. I have spoken to a few fellow members of the Leadership Council and they support my two proposals wholeheartedly. I have no doubt that other old boys too will be happy to contribute to the education of young Josephians in similar ways.

Like SJI, SJI International seeks to nurture good citizens and future leaders. To this end, SJI International will provide a solid, values-centred, broad-based, internationally oriented Catholic education for students from Singapore and the region. With the solid support from SJI old boys and the wider community, and with the strong academic team in place, I am confident that our vision will come true, sooner rather than later.

Ora et Labora

Back