Speech at Malay Youth Literary Association (4PM) 9th Bestari Award Presentation Ceremony

Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister For Manpower, Institute of Technical Education (ITE) HQ

      Introduction

1. I am pleased to join you this afternoon at the Malay Youth Literary Association, or 4PM, Bestari Award Ceremony 2010.
2. The Bestari Award was first introduced in 2002 as a platform to recognise and celebrate the achievements and significant progress of outstanding Malay-Muslim students enrolled at the various Institute of Technical Education (ITE) campuses. It serves to motivate the award winners, spurring them on to be future role models for the community.
3. I am heartened to learn that the alumni of this award have gone on to pursue higher education and training programs after graduating from ITE.
4. One of the first recipients of the award, Ms Jamilah Jasmi, is one such example. She won the inaugural Bestari Outstanding Student Award in 2002. Following her ITE education, she progressed on to pursue a Polytechnic education and graduated in 2004 with a Diploma in Architecture. She has been giving back to the community with her active volunteerism both overseas and at home. She has helped in the refurbishment of an old kampung house into a resource centre in Sabah. She also volunteers regularly back at 4PM through the annual Ramadan on Wheels (ROW) programme, taking on a leadership role in guiding a group of students to provide mini makeovers and general house cleaning for ROW beneficiaries. Ms Jamilah currently works at Yayasan Mendaki as a Youth Development Executive, serving as a role model to other youths she works with to contribute and give back to the community.
5. Like Ms Jamilah, many ITE students and former award recipients contribute to the society and the association as active volunteers. Today, at least 30% of the active volunteers in 4PM are current or former ITE students. Some Bestari Award winners have taken up leadership positions to lead the organization forward. These volunteers have initiated and organised effective programmes to meet the interests and needs of the current ITE students.
   
   Importance of Lifelong Learning and Education
6. Learning does not stop when you leave school. Lifelong education and upgrading are crucial to improving employability especially in the increasingly competitive global climate. Continuous education and training will remain integral to our strategy to build a world class workforce.
7. The Government will invest $2.5 billion over the next 5 years to further strengthen our CET system, with targeted programmes for adult workers to re-skill and up-skill. I encourage the award recipients and all our future workers here to continue learning and acquiring new skills and knowledge.
8. My Ministry has also worked with ITE in July this year, to include ITE students in our internship programme. This will provide more opportunities for ITE students to gain meaningful work and life experiences during your school holidays as well as to receive extra pocket money. So far, 14 ITE interns have gone through the programme and their feedback has been positive. They have said that their experiences at MOM – from dealing with customers, to various other stakeholders - have helped to prepare them better for the challenges they will face in their working life.
9. Organisations like 4PM also play an important role, through collaborations with the various ITE Colleges, in equipping the students with interpersonal, communication and team building skills needed to be successful in their future careers.
10. One example of this successful partnership is project bITE a school social work programme that encompasses various programmes such as workshops, team building activities and community projects, to develop the values of lifelong learning and giving back to the community. Project bITE has grown from just 500 students when it started, to more than 16,000 students from all backgrounds regardless of race or religion.
    
    Project eCube (e3)
11. This year, building on the success of project bITE, 4PM introduced Project eCube (e3) to allow existing and former ITE students to initiate and implement activities such as peer mentoring, Night Cycling, Integration Camps, Parenting Workshops and Seminars. Such activities have provided useful opportunities to engage the community and raise the self confidence of ITE students.
12. I am happy that organisations like 4PM recognise the contributions of ITE students to the community, as exemplified by this Bestari award ceremony. This would not have been possible without the unwavering support of the principals, lecturers, students, 4PM management committee, staff and volunteers.
    
    Conclusion
13. I hope that the collaborative efforts between 4PM and ITE will continue to grow and benefit generations of students.
14. I would also like to congratulate the 45 award recipients this year, for their excellent academic achievements. I am sure that your parents, family members, teachers and friends, who have supported you in your journey, share the pride and joy of your success today. I wish all of you a bright future ahead!
15. Thank you.