 Singapore country web site |
ExxonMobil Chemical Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. at the Caring Teacher Awards Ceremony 2008
Welcome Remarks by
Mr Jeffery W Davis, Asia Pacific Manufacturing Director
ExxonMobil Chemical Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. at the
Caring Teacher Awards Ceremony
Friday, 5 September 2008
Good Afternoon,
Mr Wong Siew Hoong, Director of Schools,
Professor Lee Sing Kong, Director, National Institute of Education,
Dr Nick Aplin, Chairman of the Caring Teacher Awards Organising Committee;
Principals, Teachers, Students; and
Friends
I am very glad to be here with you this afternoon.
We are here today to recognise and honour all Caring Teachers.
Teachers are one of the most important building blocks in society. Teachers impart knowledge and nurture young minds with a sense of wonderment for what is around us; a disposition for curiosity; and a thirst for life long learning.
Teachers help build character and impart values. They teach us to respect differences and the value of tolerance, so that we can live in harmony with one another.
Our teachers also encourage us, give us hope, worry and care about us. Carl Jung once said, “One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings."
Today, we recognise and celebrate these caring teachers who have touched our lives in one way or another.
On behalf of ExxonMobil, I congratulate each and every teacher who has received a nomination this year. Your students, fellow colleagues and principals have come forward to express their appreciation through their award nominations. I also congratulate school level recipients of the Caring Teacher Awards. We apploud your tireless dedication to your students. You have gone many extra miles to provide your students with education in the broadest sense of the word.
Special mention goes to the recipients of this year’s Caring Teacher Awards:
Ms Halimatussa’Diah binte Jaffar
Ms Deborah Ng,
Mr Michael Kwok
and the 11 teachers who will be presented with the Commendation Awards at this afternoon’s ceremony. Your beacon of care shines brightly in your students’ hearts.
Education goes beyond what we learn in our classrooms and hence, a teacher’s work is never done. A teacher's influence on a child transcends time. I am sure we all can recall a teacher or many teachers who have made that difference in our lives.
ExxonMobil is honoured to have the opportunity to work with the National Institute of Education for the last 12 years to recognise and honour Caring Teachers. This is a particularly meaningful community outreach initiative for us. We believe that our people are our most important asset. Teachers play an important role in schooling every generation as the nation strives to give our children the best education. The teachers help foster, not only a skilled workforce, but a caring and cohesive nation that works together in peace and harmony. Our work with the NIE on the Caring Teacher Award is part of our effort to make a positive difference in this community where we operate.
Let me conclude by thanking NIE and the Ministry of Education, for giving us the opportunity to acknowledge the great work that our teachers are doing. Very special thank yous go to Dr Nick Aplin, Chairman for Caring Teacher Awards 2008, Ms Patricia Campbell, Head of Public, International and Alumni Relations (PIAR) and Ms Jolene Tan, Senior Officer also from the Public International and Alumni Relations, for their dedication and their work with the Caring Teacher programme and their attention to details that have made this event a success.
Thank you.
