from channelnewsasia.com:
Stronger together, for a better tomorrow
Co-chair of the COVID-19 Multi-Ministry Taskforce Minister Lawrence Wong talks about the takeaways and silver linings of the pandemic that will take us into a better 2021.
Amid the unprecedented events of 2020, many Singaporeans have risen to the challenge, displaying resilience, optimism and grit in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the run up to the new year, we profile 21 individuals who share more about their respective journeys, as well as their hopes and aspirations for 2021.
Collected, assertive and assuring, he was the figure of authority who lent clarity to a complex and ever-evolving situation that threatened the nation on many fronts. And though the casual observer might not have been able to tell from his composed demeanour, Minister Lawrence Wong was certainly in the hot seat for most of the year, co-chairing the COVID-19 Multi-Ministry Taskforce with Health Minister Gan Kim Yong.
It was a journey of trials and tribulations, as the nation grappled with unexpected turns. Just as many Singaporeans found an inner reservoir of resilience through our united fight against the pandemic, Mr Wong has also gained invaluable insights during this year of many firsts.
Here, the Minister for Education and Second Minister for Finance reviews 2020 – and the lessons it holds for himself and the nation.
2020 saw the world changed irrevocably by the pandemic. As co-chair of the COVID-19 Multi-Ministry Taskforce, you were at the forefront of efforts to combat the pandemic. Can you share with us some stories and key takeaways from the frontlines that have left a deep impression?
There were so many stories, given that I had a front-row perspective of Singapore’s response to the crisis.
I will never forget meeting the many healthcare frontliners, and how they kept their spirits up and worked without complaint, despite how tired they were.
I saw how the private and public sectors worked together with speed and a single-minded focus to set up the many response facilities.
I got to see the best of Singaporeans — not just frontliners dealing with the crisis directly — but individuals, even school children, rallying support for one another, be it through volunteering to distribute masks at the dormitories, or simple acts of writing ‘thank you’ notes to show their appreciation and support for our frontliners and migrant workers. The ground-up community spirit and unity has been very inspiring. It is a powerful demonstration of people reflecting on the crisis, and discovering how to emerge better from it.
How has the education landscape changed post-COVID-19, and what advice do you have for parents and students embarking on the new academic year in 2021?
The accelerated adoption of technology in education has been something we have talked about for a long time. Such change takes time, but ironically because of COVID-19 and the need to ensure learning could continue at home, we had to adapt and integrate technology much quicker.
That’s why we want to lock in the gains from home-based learning and make it part of the mainstream curriculum. With technology, blended learning and flipped classrooms become possible. Learning will no longer be didactic. Some lessons can be taught online, and for classes that are taught in person, there can be greater focus on the two-way engagements between teachers and students.
The crisis has also catalysed people to ask how well-prepared we are for a volatile future. This goes beyond technology, and takes us on a journey that moves away from focusing narrowly on book knowledge to nurture broader 21st century competencies and values, to ensure holistic education at all levels.
The pandemic has strengthened our resolve to continue on this path, and put in place better systems to inculcate these 21st century competencies — communication, creativity, innovation, resilience, the ability to adapt — in every child, starting from as early as pre-school and continuing through to tertiary education.
How has your own life changed since COVID-19 hit?
I now eat, sleep and dream COVID-19!
Professionally, it was an opportunity to grow and learn, and to meet a new challenge.
On the personal front, family has always been important to me. COVID-19 makes it hard to spend time with those outside of my household. A situation like this makes you reflect on what is truly important in life. But while it is sad to miss families and friends, I have adapted to the social restrictions – it is something all of us have had to cope with.
How have the events of 2020 inspired you as a leader?
This has been a year of firsts, for sure. For one, I did more press conferences in a year – more than 50! – than in my lifetime to date, after almost 10 years in politics and 15 years in the civil service. The frequency and short notice of these conferences required me to get out of my comfort zone, and adapt and grow on the communication side of things.
From a wider perspective, the unprecedented scale and impact of this pandemic is a reminder that the best laid plans do not always go well. [Former US President and World War 2 general Dwight] Eisenhower once said that 'plans in a battle are useless, but planning is indispensable'.
Indeed, we benefitted from the planning we did after SARS, but there is ultimately no way to anticipate everything — there was a range of unimaginable issues to deal with on all fronts. Acknowledging that there will be trip-ups and lapses, and that you will have to recover and adapt and improve along the way — which our system has proven capable of through the year — is certainly a lesson to take away.
Onwards to 2021, what kind of leadership approach would best benefit Singapore in the future — and what changes would this entail?
The current global situation offers a sobering lesson. It is a demonstration of how confidence in authority has been eroded to devastating consequences. It is also a reminder of how fragile societal ties can be.
It’s not just about how leadership needs to change, but also about how everybody in society, and those who lead, must work together and confront issues. As Mr Lee Kuan Yew said on his 60th birthday: 'Only a people willing to face up to their problems and prepared to work with their leaders to overcome unexpected hardships with courage and resolution deserve to thrive and prosper.'
Moving forward, it is about everyone working together, and having that trust and confidence in one another. That’s why we talk about Singapore Together, and building a government that involves many more people in decision-making, and empowering them to shape Singapore in a collective movement. We have a whole range of Emerging Stronger Conversations, and also Alliances for Action where stakeholders have the ability to initiate solutions.
What is your New Year’s resolution?
I just want to be healthy and do better every year. This is a lifelong pursuit that isn’t specific to just the new year.
What is your hope for Singapore in 2021?
I hope 2021 will be the year where we stand together and win this fight against COVID-19, and emerge stronger.
