14 LUMEN | JOSEPHIANS
In Conversation with
Mr Noel Hon
and an understanding of the culture is so important if you wish to progress in your career . I am glad that the level of chinese in SJI is improving . While those in China will want to speak English , not all of them will . If you really want to communicate with them , you ’ ll have to learn their language and culture .
AJ : What ’ s beyond ? NH : I think that SJI needs to strengthen itself and prepare for the challenges ahead . We need to
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I always felt that when I did work right , to me , it was a prayer . I made sure that whatever I did was a prayer .
“ offer a new and excellent programme for the IP and IB . We really need to continue to focus on the excellent holistic education that we offer . This programme has been recognised by the MOE . Concentrate on our strengths : the idea of being ‘ Men for Others ’ and ‘ Men of Faith and Service ’. Excelling in one area is not enough . We must look into other areas of contribution . Our students must look at the gaps in our society and how determine how we can contribute back to society . Use the talents that have been given . Don ’ t hide them .
AJ : Did you ever get into any trouble at school ?
NH : No .
AJ : Ok . Let ' s talk a little about being on the Board of Governors . How did that begin ?
NH : Well , I thought I was invited by to be on the Board and soon found that it was to Chair the Board . I prayed about it and decided that yes , I would do it . I had not kept up with education in schools even though I had served in the Councils and Boards of NUS , NIE , SIM and Singapore Polytechnic . So , I just took it on in faith .
AJ : So what was the plan ? NH : To get to the next stage we needed to improve the school . When I looked at it there were certain things that the MOE and all the other schools seemed to be very interested in . Why reinvent the wheel when there were so many good programmes to follow ? The Schools Excellence Award for example . I believed in it . I believe in standards for administration and governance . I believe in certification as it forces the staff of school to think in a structured way about how they should do things as there was an audit process in place for certification .
But , in the end , SJI exists for its students . This is our priority .
We developed programmes to bring out and develop the talents of each individual student . We partnered internationally renowned educational institutions to enrich the curriculum of SJI . We focussed on our teachers to develop their skills and knowledge so that they can be better at their jobs . It is the reason why we were so keen on the IP .
It was a fantastic moment in 2010 when the Prime Minister announced that SJI was selected for the IP and IB . That was an 7-year strategic plan in the making .
AJ : Were there things that you felt needed to be done ?
NH : Yes , the first thing I did was to come up with a strategic plan . It was a new Board and we needed to know what direction we should pursue . The most important thing that emerged was that the school needed to be a School of Choice for the alumni and the Catholic community .
The landscape had changed and we weren ’ t part of this new landscape . We were not part of the new Integrated Programme . So we had to ask ourselves how to deal with this . I felt we could not carry on like this for it would make the School irrelevant to our Community . We would begin to lose the students from our feeder schools .
Mr Hon ( in his scout uniform ) inspects the uniformed groups at the 2010 Anniversary Parade in SJI
AJ : If you had one thing , you ' d like to say to the young Josephians , what would it be ?
NH : Ora et Labora . Make work your prayer and it will be joyous work ; it will get done right .
So this is what a makes a man . This man who learnt , early on , to return borrowed items in a better condition , much the same way he returned SJI in a better condition – the chess player who saw the clear need for a strategy .
A man who absolutely insists on giving back to society . A man who stays true to the promise to do his best , always , for God and Country . A man of faith who believes his work is his prayer and a pleasing offering .