尊敬的教育部李智陞部长
福建会馆监理会以及理事会同仁
各位校长、老师、
女士们、先生们

大家晚上好！

今晚，我们齐聚一堂，共同庆祝教师节，并表扬飞跃教师奖得主。我谨代表新加坡福建会馆全体同仁，热烈欢迎教育部长李智陞先生莅临，与我们共同见证这一充满意义的时刻。李部长一如既往支持会馆属校及飞跃教师奖，更是拨冗出席今晚的典礼，亲自为获奖老师颁奖，让我们不胜感激。这是李部长连续第二年担任我们的颁奖主宾，这份持续的关怀与重视，对老师们而言，无疑是一份珍贵的肯定。

福建会馆自1840年创会以来，186年来始终秉持兴学育才的初心，深耕教育事业，从不遗余力。今年更是会馆教育发展成果丰硕、意义非凡的一年：飞跃教师奖迎来第15届，持续表扬优秀教育工作者；双文化华文优选课程也迎来推行近20周年的重要里程碑。课程自2007年启动以来，在属下五所小学扎实推展，成果斐然，我们更乐于与更多学校分享教材及教学经验，让更多学子受惠；与此同时，会馆历史最悠久的属校——道南学校也即将迎来创校120周年。这一连串教育里程碑，不仅彰显了福建会馆长期深耕教育、薪火相传的坚定承诺，也激励我们在瞬息万变的时代继续创新求变，深化华族文化的传承。

今晚的晚宴主题是“教育时光之旅：从黑板智慧到人工智能”( “A Journey Through Time: From Chalkboards to AI”) ，恰与黄循财总理在2026年国庆献词中关于“以我们的方式驾驭科技”的论述遥相呼应。科技虽日新月异，但教育的本质——立德树人、关爱学生——始终不变。正如我国在拥抱人工智能与社交媒体时，坚持以人为本、以技能培训和安全保障为双翼，不让任何人在科技洪流中掉队；我们的教育工作者同样在善用新工具提升教学效能的同时，坚守诚信与品格的底线，用心守护每一位孩子的成长。今晚荣获第15届飞跃教师奖的16位优秀教师，正是这种“科技为用、育人为本”精神的最佳体现。他们在变革中不忘初心，以爱心与智慧点亮未来，值得我们致以最崇高的敬意。

在此，我谨代表福建会馆，向在座每一位校长、老师，以及所有支持教育事业的同仁，致以最诚挚的谢意。感谢你们的奉献与担当，让新加坡的教育不断进步，也让我们的下一代在科技与人文的交汇处，自信地面向未来，绽放光彩！

请允许我接着以英语致辞。

Guest-of-Honour, Minister for Education, Mr Desmond Lee,
Principals, teachers, ladies and gentlemen, a very good evening!

On behalf of the 45th Council of the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, I am deeply honoured to welcome you to a night of gratitude and inspiration — our annual Teachers’ Day Appreciation Dinner and the 15th LEAP Award Presentation Ceremony. Tonight, we honour those who light the way and those who dare to follow, because every great journey begins with a teacher and a dream.

The LEAP Award, launched by the late President S R Nathan in 2011, honours 16 outstanding teachers tonight from 340 nominations across 205 schools. We are delighted that 7 schools are first-time recipients, namely Anchor Green Primary School, Fairfield Methodist School (Primary), Nanyang Primary School, New Town Primary School, Damai Secondary School, Maitri School and St Andrew’s Junior College. A big well-earned round of applause to all our LEAP Award recipients! Every one of you give so much of yourself; please know it is making a difference.

I would also like to thank the LEAP Award judging panel for your dedication and time in reviewing the nominations and finalising the recipients. Comprising 7 distinguished members, the panel is chaired by the SHHK Education Committee Chair and Vice-Chair, alongside external judges who bring invaluable expertise from their respective fields related to education. We are truly honoured to have you with us this evening. Your thoughtful evaluation and commitment have ensured that the most deserving teachers are recognised tonight. Your service is deeply appreciated.

As the Chairman of the SHHK Affiliated Schools Management Committee, I wish to extend our deepest appreciation to all educators and staff who are receiving the Long Service Awards this evening. A special mention goes to Mdm Yee May May, Senior STEM Instructor at Nan Chiau High School, who has served in education for 40 years. Mdm Yee has witnessed the transformation of our classrooms—from chalkboards to AI-powered learning tools. Her dedication is a true inspiration to us all.

As many of you know, next year in 2027, the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan will conduct its next triennial Council election. It has been a great honour and privilege for me to have served as President of SHHK for two terms since 2021. I am most humbled by the trust and support that have been extended to me throughout these years as I carried out my responsibilities in this role. This will be the last Teachers’ Day Appreciation Dinner and LEAP Award Presentation Ceremony on which I address all of you as President of SHHK and Chairman of the SHHK Affiliated Schools Management Committee. On behalf of the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, I wish to pay tribute to all the principals, teachers and staff of our affiliated schools for your dedication, resilience and passion. You are the heart of our education system, and I am deeply grateful for everything you do.

I have every confidence that our newly elected Council Members will carry this mission forward with unwavering commitment to education and our affiliated schools. With the new leadership at the helm, I look forward to an even brighter and more inspiring future ahead.

Thank you all for being here this evening. Once again, on behalf of Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, I wish every educator a very Happy Teachers’ Day! May you enjoy tonight’s celebration, and please have a well-deserved rest in the week ahead.

Thank you.