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EVEN the Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sports was not spared from school bullies as a boy.
Speaking at the launch of Bowen Secondary's collaboration with Singapore Children's Society on Saturday, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan told the students how 'being bullied, getting involved in fights, getting into trouble with teachers, being sent out of class and getting close to being caned by the principal' had made him realised that fighting 'didn't achieve very much'.
These experiences, however, have shaped him to be who he is today. Drawing on them, he urged the students to stay in school, 'no matter how bad the situation is'.
He also spoke of the importance of friendships forged in school.
'In Singapore's context, without education, there is almost no hope of achieving success in life. But education goes beyond what you learn in textbooks. The friends you make in school are just as important. Look at the people sitting beside you: will they be your friends for life?' said Dr Balakrishnan.
This conviction is shared by Project Cabin - an initiative by Singapore Children's Society.
Working with different secondary schools to provide a cabin furnished with games and computers on school grounds, the Society hopes to address the teenage delinquency issue by providing students with an alternative place, other than shopping centres and amusement arcades, to hang out after school.
Bowen Secondary's Cabin is the 18th and newest addition to this movement.
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