CREATING NE MOMENTS

How does one impart National Education (NE) to one's charges?

This was the focus of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) NE Workshop held at the Singapore Discovery Centre on 18 Apr.

In the one-day workshop, participants learnt how to "create NE moments" through various creative ways.

In one of the afternoon sessions, NE practitioners from the SAF as well as Ngee Ann Polytechnic were present to share their NE experiences.

Nexus's latest NE resource, Chicken Soup for the NE Soul, a collection of speeches, anecdotes, stories and quotes, was also dished out to workshop participants to help them better engage their charges.

The challenges of conducting NE were discussed and tackled.

"I recognise it is a challenge to conduct NE subtly in creative and engaging ways while juggling time to meet various priorities on the ground," said Brigadier-General (BG) Gary Ang, Deputy Secretary (Policy), Ministry of Defence.

"But you have to make time for NE," said BG Ang, in his opening remarks at the NE Workshop.

By looking out for appropriate "NE moments", one can infuse NE seamlessly into unit activities, such as training and military ceremonies, he said.

BG Ang also stressed that SAF commanders must "walk the talk" and take ownership of NE in their units.

"Our NSmen will take dressing from you - your belief that Singapore can be defended, and your confidence in the SAF," he said.

"It is your conviction and commitment that will make the 300,000 Operationally Ready NSmen willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with you should the SAF be called into action to defend the country."

BG Ang's words struck a chord with Senior Warrant Officer (SWO) Jeffrey Chung, who had been creating "NE moments" even before he knew of this phrase.

"Actually, I see NE everywhere. Take bird flu, for example. That can be a form of NE too," said the Army Sergeant Major.

"If we view NE in this light, then it is no longer an abstract subject, because many issues are relevant to NE!"

Miss Maliana Md Rashid (left), a primary school teacher, had a slightly different takeaway from the day's programme.

"We have to start infusing NE when they are young. This will ensure that when they grow up and become NSmen one day, they will be mentally prepared to defend their country," she said.