We are encouraged by her interest and strong support of the School of the Arts (Sota). Sota was set up by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts to nurture youth talented in the arts. The school offers a well-rounded curriculum and students are trained in their specialised arts disciplines as well as grounded in academic subjects.

We believe strongly in the role the literary arts can play as part of the holistic education of young people gifted in music, dance, theatre and the visual arts. Creative writing is at the heart of our Literature In English curriculum, where language is developed with the use of literature. All Sota students have to take this subject.

During Literature In English classes, students are trained to be readers as well as writers. Sota also devotes resources to nurturing students' interest in creative writing. For instance, we recently invited Singapore Literature Prize-winning poet Yong Shu Hoong to conduct writing workshops for every class. All students in Sota keep a creative writing portfolio which is maintained throughout their six years of education.

At Sota, the literary arts are also promoted through collaborative teaching by the Literature In English and other departments. Sota has chosen to make the literary arts accessible to all students, recognising their values and reinforcing our firm belief that all students should be allowed to experiment, express and discover.

As a new school, we are grateful for community support and the time given for Sota to grow as a school as we continue to develop our niche areas while exploring new viable options for students.

Er Ker Jia
Manager, Corporate Communications
School of the Arts, Singapore