PM Lee Hsien Loong at Montfort Schools Centennial Fundraising Dinner

Mr Lim Boon Heng, Patron and Advisor to the Centennial Celebrations Committee, Mr Chua Cher Choon, Chairperson of the School Management Committee, Brother Dominic Yeo-Koh, Supervisor of schools of the Montfort Brothers of St Gabriel, Principals Mark Minjoot and Wilbur Wong. Distinguished Guests, Ladies and gentlemen.

I am delighted to join you for the 100th Anniversary Celebrations of Montfort Schools. I am not a Montfortian, but I come from a brother school too. Not St Patrick's like your emcee, not St Joseph’s which we have a friendly history, but Catholic High School. You got to 100 first so I am here first. We have come a very long way, starting off as Holy Innocents’, providing education to farmers and fishermen living in the area. The school pioneers were undaunted when they went house to house to encourage parents to enrol their children in the school. In 1959, it became renamed to Montfort School when the Brothers of St Gabriel took over. I should say I did not know this bit of the history, I knew about the Holy Innocents’ School, the Chinese one. But after preparing the speech tonight, I discovered there was another Innocents’ School in Singapore. So I could say I came to another brothers’ school and I discovered more innocence. I am happy to be here and sharing it with you. 

By the 1960s, Montfort School was sought after and had established its name in Hougang and Serangoon for providing quality education. It also offered pre-university classes to students from other schools in the neighbourhood. Then, it split in 1974 into Montfort Junior and Montfort Secondary, with pre-university classes combining with Catholic Junior College. Today, you have about 2,000 students, combined with upgraded premises and facilities – a vast improvement from its early days.

Through the years, the principals and teachers have put the schools onto a strong footing and given your students a very good education. For example, the late Mr Teo Kah Leng who was a student of Holy Innocents’ English School. He came back to serve his alma mater in various capacities for almost 40 years – was a GP and arts teacher as well as the Principal of the primary section. He had students who prefer to speak Teochew, and did not pay attention when he taught them English. But after they graduated and found that they needed to improve their English for work, they came to look for him and he continued to coach them and helped them to do better. He also wrote the lyrics of the School anthem, “The Song of The Brave”. Educators like Mr Teo played a vital role in moulding Montfortians and other schools in Singapore. People like him – moulded us into the Singaporeans we are today. So it is a very good thing that we all come back together for this anniversary not just to catch up with old classmates, but also to celebrate the occasion with your principals and teachers. To express gratitude for the education you received, and at the same time to raise funds for Montfort.  So I would like to thank all the principals and teachers for your dedication and hard work!

Many Montfort alumni have gone on to be leaders, to be a “Man for Others” – true to your vision, serving Singaporeans in different roles. You have produced two Ministers so far – Mr Lim Boon Heng and Dr Lee Boon Yang. You have produced two other Members of Parliament – Mr Ng Kah Ting and Dr Augustine Tan.

Outside of politics, many Montfort alumni have done very well in your chosen fields. Like Professor Quek Tong Boon, Chief Defence Scientist of Ministry of Defence. I did not know it, but my draft now says Professor – congratulations Tong Boon! He does many things which I cannot tell you about tonight, but one thing I can tell you about is he was involved in Singapore’s first commercial earth observation satellite that was launched into space last year, and it is working well in outer space. Mr Derek Wong, a national badminton player, who won a silver in the men’s single at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and actively conducts clinics to impart his experiences and skills to the juniors. More than a dozen alumni have also joined the priesthood including the Archbishop of Singapore William Goh. He is not here this evening but he flies the school flag high. I Hope that the alumni will continue to be role models, and inspire the next generation of students.

Even as we celebrate the past and achievements of Montfortians, we must look ahead and prepare our children and our students for the future. Continue to give them a good academic education, to build up a strong foundation in literacy, numeracy, science and humanities. But also emphasise holistic development to develop their talents and give them skills and values that they will need for life which will make them upright citizens and upright members of our society. To build character and inculcate the right values so that they have a sense of belonging to Singapore, want to help fellow Singaporeans and contribute to society and of course, to the school. The school should also provide students with a broad range of experiences and encourage their interest in non-academic areas. You have a strong tradition in sports and outdoor adventure. I saw some of the pictures just now – Outward Bound School, overseas activities and community work in neighbouring countries. I see that the young students now have many more opportunities to do these things. For example, I was told just last month, the Secondary 3 cohort completed a land and sea expedition – trekking, cycling and kayaking more than 50 km in Singapore, demonstrating teamwork and resilience. Building memories I am sure they will recall fondly over a lifetime.

I am glad that Montfort has focussed on values-driven education and character development. You have partnered with Children’s Cancer Foundation in the Hair for Hope event last year. Montfort School, apart from being a school and teaching students, has also become a shaving site. A site for students and members of the public to shave their hair to raise funds for the Children’s Cancer Foundation. I do not see anyone who has recently participated tonight, but I am sure the next occasion will soon come. It is not the students, I am told the students cajole their family members to participate and the last time you did this, you raised close to $40,000. It is not only a project which raises funds but also helps students to empathise with young cancer patients and build compassion. Montfort students demonstrate exemplary behaviour and leadership even at a young age and are expected to do so. Like Princeton Toh, who is in Primary 5, and I met him just now. He excels academically and is also a prefect. He recently led his peers in a project called “Friends of Singa”. To show more appreciation to non-teaching staff – administrators, cleaners and canteen vendors. He encouraged his peers to write appreciation notes and make them into posters to present to these staff, which I think is a very good project.

I should digress just to tell you a story I picked up recently, told by somebody who wrote about how he went to business school and studied techniques of analysis, descriptions, how to read accounts, how to make business plans, mergers and acquisitions. He went on to take his final exams and at the exam, there was a blank piece of paper and the instructor said there is only one simple question – please write down on this piece of paper, the name of the janitor who cleans this room every day. The person who wrote this essay said he failed the exam and did not know what the name was. His instructor said you can learn all these techniques but it is the people who work for you who count, right down to the lowest, bottom of the organisation – you have to know them, care for them and that is what will make you a success. So I think Princeton and the “Friends of Singa” are on the right track.

Tonight’s theme is “Celebrating the Past, Charting the Future”. It is an apt theme, you can be proud of your achievements over the last century. You join a very small group of centenary schools in Singapore. The vibrance and vigor of Montfort attests to the strong support by the community and the good education given to generations of students. So I congratulate the management, principals, teachers, staff, parents, alumni and students, and I should thank Boon Heng for inviting me and sharing the day with you all. May you continue your good work, and nurture many more gentlemen, scholars, sportsmen and leaders – for many more years to come!
Thank you.

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