34
LUMEN | THE PASSING OF AN ICON AT SJI
THE PASSING OF AN ICON AT SJI by Eliza Lim
Ms Bee at her Retirement celebratory party held at SJI in Dec 2019
Ms Bee at work at the former SJI at Bras Basah Road ( Josephian Annual , 1981 )
Unknown to many Josephians who passed by the Administration Office at SJI , the woman behind the La Salle Brothers who ran St Joseph ’ s Institution was an Indian Muslim who had devoted much of her life to serving the Christian mission school . Ms Balkis Bee Abdul Karim , or ‘ Ms Bee ’ as she is affectionately known , began working at SJI at Bras Basah Road in September 1971 at the age of 21 . Ms Bee completed her GCE O-Levels at Siglap Secondary School in 1968 and her secretarial studies before applying for a government job with the Education Ministry . From a clerical assistant , Ms Bee worked her way up to become the Executive Secretary to several SJI Principals . In her career spanning 48 years before she retired from SJI officially in Dec 2019 , she had served 7 Principals - the late Bro Patrick Loh , the late Bro Joseph Kiely , the late Bro Kevin Byrne , Bro Paul Rogers , Mr Lui Seng Cheong , Dr Koh Thiam Seng and Fr ( Dr ) Adrian Danker , SJ . After her retirement , Miss Bee returned to SJI on 1 Jan 2020 to work as an HR Officer on a part-time basis until her contract ended on 31 March 2021 .
Senior Minister of State ( Education ). For her dedicated service to the La Salle Brothers , Ms Bee was recognised by the Brothers as one of the many Lasallians who generously gave their service to the mission and given the title of “ Benefactor .” She was also awarded the Outstanding Contribution Award ( Team Award ) in 2012 .
With her cheerful face and bubbly voice , Ms Bee was a familiar icon to many Josephians for almost half a century . To the Josephians who had studied in SJI at
Bras Basah and Malcolm Road campuses , Ms Bee ’ s smile and kind words exemplify what are distinctive and special about the Josephian education : caring for each student and nurturing them to become men and women of integrity and men and women for others . Ms Bee truly embodied many of the Lasallian virtues like generosity , piety , humility , patience and wisdom . The SJI family has lost a true Lasallian .
Eternal rest grant unto her , O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her .
A TRIBUTE TO MISS BEE - CAPTURED ON THIS PADLET :
Ms Bee ’ s long and distinguished service to education earned her two national awards . She made the National Day Honours List in 1997 and received an Efficiency Award from then-Education Minister Teo Chee Hean , himself an old SJI boy . In 1999 , she received a Long Service Award from Dr Aline Wong , then