Key Points in RADM Teo's Opening Speech OPENING SPEECH BY RADM (NS) TEO CHEE HEAN, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND SECOND MINISTER FOR DEFENCE, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF ELEMENTZ ON FRIDAY 14 APRIL 2000 AT 2.30 PM AT NANYANG JUNIOR COLLEGE 1.) The key source of wealth creation for individuals and countries in the New Economy is the possession and creation of knowledge. The New Economy is built on technology, particularly fast advancing technologies like Info communications and the new revolution in the Life Sciences. Speed, flexibility and nimbleness in seizing market opportunities will be critical. And the marrying of entrepreneurial talents and technological expertise is crucial for this. New Teaching and Learning Approaches 2.) As educators, Principals and teachers have the heavy responsibility of supporting and helping to effect the smooth transition of the Singapore economy to one that is knowledge-based.  3.) Preparing our young to be able to cope successfully in a knowledge-based economy requires changes in the curriculum and teaching strategies. It also entails a change in the attitude and mindset of every member of the community - the learners, educators, parents and society at large.  Challenging Learning Experience 4.) We need to create a challenging learning experience which engages and involves both pupils and teachers in the learning process. 5.) Teachers and pupils should be encouraged to experiment with new ideas and learn from one another as they work collaboratively on projects and learning activities, learning from their successes and their mistakes. 6.) Science education should be designed not only to impart content knowledge, but also provide opportunities for students to develop inquiring minds and problem-solving skills. The opportunity to involve industry practitioners and researchers will provide one such impetus to revolutionise the teaching and learning experience.  7.) Such involvement also reflects an integrated community effort where learning and collaboration among pupils, teachers, communities and private sector partnerships are all tightly interwoven. Re-orientation of Science Education 8.) To produce a world class workforce, educators need to be catalysts for change as well as standard bearers in education practices. We must endeavour to be pace-setters as we work towards realising our vision of "Thinking Schools, Learning Nation". The Ministry of Education has implemented a series of initiatives to re-orientate the education system to one that equips our young with the requisite skills to meet future challenges. The Ministry has also encouraged local initiatives by schools and school clusters to best meet the needs of their students. 9.) ELEMENTZ, a cluster science and technology centre, is the latest initiative, spearheaded by the 18 schools in North 1 Cluster. ELEMENTZ 10.) First of its kind, ELEMENTZ is a prototype of the high quality learning environment of the future where teachers and students are partners in learning. They can work with the latest laboratory and research equipment, and will have industry mentors at hand to guide them. Pupils are given every encouragement and a supportive environment to explore new ideas, take risks and persevere in the face of failure. These are excellent learning opportunities for our budding innovators while they are in school. 11.) At ELEMENTZ, research-based collaborative projects are initiated by students and teachers. They have the opportunity to use sophisticated equipment to conduct experiments in material and life sciences. Lectures and demonstrations by visiting professors, researchers and experts are organised to facilitate research, provide depth to learning and to enable teachers and students to tap the latest developments in science and technology. 12.) They will be given opportunities to visit research laboratories in higher institutions both locally and abroad and interact with professionals from the academic, research and industrial communities to keep abreast with the latest technology applications. 13.) Creative partnership of schools and their communities are achieved through the mentorship scheme with tertiary institutions and private sector organisations. Researchers from Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic have availed themselves to serve as resource mentors.  14.) And 3M has a special programme called TWIST, or Teachers Working In Science and Technology. This programme allows teachers to develop innovative skills and gain first-hand insights of 3M's sophisticated technology applications in material sciences and its R&D processes. I understand that this is the first time that 3M has extended this programme outside of the US. 15.) Students and teachers in the cluster have eagerly begun to tap on the expertise of their academic and industry collaborators. This ranges from the investigation carried out by some Secondary Four students on the right kind of tea as a cure for sore throat, to differentiating natural jade from polymer-treated jade. Industry Partnerships 16.) ELEMENTZ is fortunate to have received generous support from both public and private organisations such as the National Science and Technology Board, 3M, Agilent Technologies and POSTKID. To date, they have funded half of the $650 000 spent on the development of the centre. This has also enabled the cluster to tap global resources by harnessing computer, Internet and video-conferencing technology. Hence, teachers and students are able to network and learn from other researchers worldwide. I'm told that shortly, we will see technology in action when we go on a video-conference with one of 3M's eminent scientists, Dr Shih Lai Lu in Taiwan. 17.) The exciting possibilities at ELEMENTZ have come about because of the school cluster system. No single school would have been able to garner the resources to do this, nor could any one school have generated the critical mass of teachers and students to make this endeavour, and the community and industry collaborations viable. With the clustering, high-end equipment and the time, energy and ideas of collaborators are pooled for the use of the schools in the Cluster. 18.) In closing, I wish to extend my heartiest congratulations to the Principals, teachers and students of the North 1 Cluster for their excellent efforts to contribute to the vision "Thinking Schools, Learning Nation". 19.) May ELEMENTZ fire up their passion and excitement for learning and be the catalyst for new discoveries and inventions.