Speech at the Thanksgiving Ceremony marking the 35th Anniversary of the Christian Alliance SC Chan Memorial College

Speech by Mrs Marion LAI CHAN Chi-kuen, JP

Permanent Secretary for Education

at the Thanksgiving Ceremony marking the 35th Anniversary

of the Christian Alliance SC Chan Memorial College

on Friday, 27 November 2015

Professor Wong (the Supervisor), Mr Wong (the Principal), distinguished guests, parents, teachers and students,

Today’s Thanksgiving Ceremony marks the 35th anniversary of Christian Alliance SC Chan Memorial College.  I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the College.  I am pleased to share your joy in celebrating the school’s achievements over the past three and a half decades.  My heartfelt thanks go to the sponsoring body as well as the management and staff of the school for their dedicated efforts in offering quality education to the students throughout the years.  Their selfless devotion has enabled students to unleash their potential and cultivate a sense of responsibility and commitment towards the community.

2.　　In face of rapid development in our society, the challenges faced by schools nowadays are unprecedented.  The learning mode and needs of students have undergone changes just within a couple of years.  There is growing expectation on the school, teachers as well as students from the public and parents.  Teaching has become far more complex than before.  Yet the core of education remains the same.  Schools and teachers should continue to uphold the student-centred approach in catering for learner diversity, developing students’ potential, inculcating positive values into them and providing them guidance in life planning.

3.　　With its mission based on Bible teaching, the College strives to develop in students a strong sense of righteousness, and guide them in the pursuit of knowledge and truth.  It aims at fostering students’ whole-person development through moral, intellectual, physical, social, aesthetic and spiritual education.  Over the past 35 years, the College has successfully helped its students realize their full potential and develop a positive attitude towards life.  Students have not just performed well in academic studies, they have also participated actively in extracurricular activities and community services.  Their self-discipline and respect for rules have fostered an admirable school culture.  Coupled with a cordial teacher-student relationship and a rich campus life, the school has built up a good reputation with strong support from parents.  With the concerted efforts of the current and former principals and school staff, the College has nurtured generation of graduates with outstanding achievements in different fields.  Among them are the first local concertmaster of the Asian Youth Orchestra, corporate chief executive officers, vice presidents of bank, hosts of news programme, leaders of software development company and social workers.

4.　　In today’s globalized environment, competition is keener than ever.  It is essential for young people to get themselves well-equipped to seize opportunities which come their way.  To prepare our next generation for future challenges, the Government is committed to providing quality education.  In particular, the Chief Executive introduced in his Policy Address of 2014 and 2015 a series of initiatives covering education, employment and whole-person development to nurture young people, with enhancement to life planning education as the major focus.  To support secondary schools in providing more systematic life planning education and career guidance services for students, the Education Bureau has provided public sector schools operating classes at senior secondary levels with an additional recurrent cash grant starting from the 2014/15 school year.  The grant aims at enhancing the capacity of the teaching team involved in career guidance service for strengthening the coordination of life planning education.  In parallel, our Bureau has enhanced the Business-School Partnership Programme to enable students to gain a better understanding of different business sectors and the relevant career progression pathways.

5.　　The Business-School Partnership Programme was first launched in 2005 to promote cooperation between the school and business sectors in extending students’ learning beyond the classroom to maximize their exposure and gain a wider prospective of the world outside.  Students can learn more about different trades and industries as well as develop positive attitudes and values in the workplace.  We hope that through systematic life planning education, students can explore their interests, build their capabilities, identify personal strengths, arouse their curiosity about the working world, and foster their planning and decision-making abilities while they are still in school.  Furthermore, by way of different learning experiences and career exploration activities, students will get to know more about various business sectors and the progression pathways for further studies or career development.  With a greater awareness of the different jobs available, they will be able to make a wise choice for their future career.

6.　　Over these 35 years, the College has kept abreast of the development in education and continued to provide quality education for its students.  Looking ahead, I am confident that the College will keep up its good efforts in nurturing more talents for the future of Hong Kong.  I also appeal to students to start equipping yourselves and grasp every learning opportunity to broaden their horizon.  With a good understanding of yourselves and a positive orientation towards life, you are well placed to plan ahead for a rewarding and satisfying career and life.

7.　　Finally, may I take this opportunity to wish the College continued success in the years to come.  May I also wish everyone and their family good health and happiness.

8.　　Thank you.