The future of our nation is in the hands of the very pupils we now educate. After all, the very wealth of a nation lies in its people -- their commitment to country and community, their willingness to strive and persevere, their ability to think, achieve and excel.

With our relatively small population, it is vital that these pupils see the importance and urgency of developing values inherent in responsible citizens. Education thus equips our students with the right values and attitudes to assure the livelihood of the individual and the country’s survival and success.

It is also education that awakens our young to the significance of Singapore’s past, our nation’s constraints and vulnerabilities and the core values of our way of life. Pupils must develop a sense of shared identity and unity, racial harmony, the instinct to defend our nation’s interests and the commitment to stand as one united people during times of need.

We must be, to our young, role models who drive National Education, and have the National Education cause deeply rooted in our beliefs. Our enthusiasm will make an impact on them during their early years. The success of the concept of National Education depends largely on our own conviction and the ability to pass that on. Teachers are mentors and role models to their pupils. They influence young minds and inculcate sound social and moral values through word and deed, within and outside the classroom.

Imbuing in our young a sense of nationhood will require commitment on our part. Knowledge of Singapore will be delivered in both the formal and informal curricula. The sense of identity, pride and self-respect as Singaporeans will be fostered through these. These values will help our young to look beyond racial and religious barriers and see that any efforts they make to the nation is for the good of the entire community. The results of our efforts may not be apparent in the near future, but we must never lose sight or heart of the cause. Education will shape our pupils’ future, who will in turn shape the future of Singapore.