By: Mr Teo Ser Luck, Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports
4 September 2006, 9.00 a.m. at Orchard Hotel
Mr Gopinath Menon
Chairman
Students Care Service
Distinguished Speakers
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good Morning
The State of our Youth
The National Youth Council (NYC) has launched the research publication ''YOUTH.sg: The State of Youth in Singapore 2006'' two weeks ago. Overall, the state of our youth is good and healthy.
Human capital indicators are strong. Youths have better educational opportunities and more diverse paths to higher education and training. By 2004, the average years of schooling has increased to 12 years, compared to 7.5 years in 1980. More are staying longer in school and thus achieving higher levels of education. The number of youth workers with polytechnic diplomas and university degrees has tripled since 1990.
Social capital indicators are equally strong. Family environments continue to provide a secure and nurturing basis for youths to develop. More youths said that they enjoy having dinner with family members (85% in 2005 versus 80% in 2002). There is a drop in the number of youths who agreed that parents notice them only when there is a problem (15% in 2005 versus 23% in 2002). There is also a drop in the number of youths who agreed that they cannot get along with their parents (7% in 2005 versus 10% in 2002).
Social participation continues to be high. There is an increase in the proportion of young people who are involved in at least one social group (52% in 2005 versus 44% in 2002). More youths are actively involved in at least one group on a weekly basis (40% in 2005 versus 34% in 2002).
We need to view our youth as resources or assets, focusing on their broader developmental needs. I am therefore heartened to see the focus of today's Seminar is on ''helping youth to pursue excellence''.
Support and Develop Local Research
YOUTH.sg offers only a broad scan of youth trends, values and attitudes. We need more local research to probe deeper into specific issues surrounding our youth. Local research is sensitised to cultural needs and the local environment. This can better inform our own practice and service approach. Funds are available. NYC's Youth Research Fund supports research efforts of non-profit organisations and individual researchers. National Council of Social Service's (NCSS) VCF Funding supports applied research looking to improve client outcomes and social service programmes.
I encourage VWOs to set aside some time to embark on research relevant to their work and to contribute to the pooled knowledge. Seminar like this is a good platform to share findings.
Helping At-Risk and Vulnerable Youth
While most youths are well-adjusted, a small number of youths are vulnerable for various reasons. Nonetheless, given the right support and encouragement, these young people will thrive well.
Our job as educators and professionals is to open up opportunities and different pathways for them to realise their talents, and to help them see possibilities. School is often the final frontier which at-risk and vulnerable youth remains connected to the larger society. School becomes an important nourishment; research shows that sometimes it takes just one caring adult, be him a teacher or a sports coach, to steer them back on course. Keeping them in school allows more opportunities for such caring adults to come into their lives.
In MCYS, we will continue to support these youths by devoting resources to schools through STEP-UP. We believe with the community joining hands with schools, we can buffer our young people and steer them towards positive outcomes. STEP-UP opens for application on 18 September. We encourage schools to work with our professionals in the VWOs to find creative ways to connect with our youth at risk.
Conclusion
I am confident that the various groups of professionals will benefit tremendously from participating in this Seminar. To echo the Seminar topic, let's break the barriers to understanding and helping our young; and instead build bridges together so that they may succeed.
It leaves me now to commend the efforts of the Students Care Service in organising this Seminar.
Thank you.
MCYS SPEECH NO: 28/2006
DATE OF ISSUE: 04/09/2006