Secondary School Students Develop STEM Solutions for the East in Inaugural Schools Challenge Singapore
Global non-profit organization Junior Achievement (JA), in collaboration with the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and leading global financial services firm J.P. Morgan, today launched the Schools Challenge Singapore – a program that empowers secondary school students with science, technology, engineering and mathematical (STEM) skills as they develop innovative solutions for real problems faced by the eastern community in Singapore.
Students from Ping Yi Secondary School brainstorming ideas alongside mentors from J.P. Morgan and SUTD at the J.P. Morgan Schools Challenge Singapore launch at Our Tampines Hub, January 26, 2019
Over the next four months, 100 lower secondary school students (aged 13-14) from five local schools in Tampines, Pasir Ris and Bedok will be working in teams of four to take on the challenge of improving the quality of living in the East using the STEM principles learned from the classroom and workshops throughout the program. Students will be paired with mentors from SUTD and J.P. Morgan who will support them through the sessions. The students will present their solutions to a panel of judges in May.
“The Schools Challenge Singapore is a STEM-focused social innovation program designed to provide secondary students early exposure to career opportunities in STEM-related sectors by engaging them in a learning journey. The program aims to empower young people with innovative, problem-solving, and techno-preneurial mindsets via a unique design innovation experience,” said Ng Hau Yee, Executive Director of JA Singapore.
As Singapore moves towards becoming a Smart Nation, demand for STEM graduates is growing. A recent study by the International Labour Organization reported that about 40 percent of Singapore companies cite lack of highly-skilled STEM workers as one of the biggest threats facing their company up to 2025.
(left to right) Mr Michael See Chern Siong, Teacher, Ministry of Education Singapore (Smart Nation & Digital Government Office); Mr Lawrence Pak Yew Hock, Director, Construction Productivity and Mechanical & Electrical Department, Building Quality Group, HDB; Mr Raymond Wong, Treasurer, JA Singapore; Ms Julienne Loh, Vice Chairman, JA Singapore; Professor Kristin L. Wood, Associate Provost of Graduate Studies, Co-director of the SUTD-MIT IDC; Mr Edmund Lee, Senior Country Officer, J.P. Morgan Singapore; Ms Ng Hau Yee, Director, JA Singapore; Mr Kelvin Thong, Group Constituency Director, Tampines GRC; Patrick Liew, Chairperson, JA Singapore at the J.P. Morgan Schools Challenge Singapore launch at Our Tampines Hub, January 26, 2019
“Through the Schools Challenge Singapore, students will have the opportunity to explore STEM, design and innovation in new and exciting ways. Skill sets will be developed, working collaboratively in teams, to create and implement ideas that make a difference in people’s lives and make a better world by design,” said Kristin L. Wood, Co-Director of SUTD-MIT International Design Centre.
“The Schools Challenge will enable students to learn more about and be actively engaged in the community. This partnership enhances the Tampines Kindness Movement. The latter celebrates, encourages, and inspires kindness through small acts of kindness to our family, neighbors and the environment. We look forward to building an even stronger spirit of kindness through the Schools Challenge,” said Desmond Choo, Mayor, Northeast District and Adviser to Tampines Grassroots Organisations.
The Schools Challenge is a global initiative founded by J.P. Morgan and launched in 2016 with students in the UK and France, and has since expanded to Italy, Hong Kong, Germany and Brazil. This is the first time that the Schools Challenge is being implemented in Singapore, in collaboration with JA Singapore and SUTD.
Students from Loyang View Secondary School at the J.P. Morgan Schools Challenge Singapore launch at Our Tampines Hub, January 26, 2019. Loyang View is one of five secondary schools participating in the challenge
Last year, teams of students in London, Paris, Milan and Hong Kong created prototypes to make roads safer in Paris, reduce air pollution in London, reduce waste in Milan and improve home safety among the elderly in Hong Kong.
“At J.P. Morgan, we believe that addressing the need for widely shared prosperity – and, more specifically, providing opportunities for young people to succeed economically – is essential. Moreover, helping young people develop the skills they need to compete in a rapidly changing labour market is a powerful strategy to get there. We recognize the importance of STEM education in the 21st century as well as giving the youth opportunities to apply what they learn in the classroom to inspire them to pursue careers in the high-growth STEM sectors.” said Edmund Lee, senior country officer of J.P. Morgan Singapore.
List of local schools
Loyang View Secondary School
Pasir Ris Secondary School
Ping Yi Secondary School
Tampines Secondary School
Tanjong Katong Girls’ School