SINGAPORE - More than 4,700 students will be receiving their diplomas from Republic Polytechnic over the next five days, starting Monday.

It is the school's largest graduating cohort since RP opened its doors 12 years ago.

In his first public speech as labour chief, Mr Chan Chun Sing, who attended the ceremony on May 4, urged the graduates to continue learning and keep trying at whatever they do.

At the ceremony, the polytechnic's principal, Mr Yeo Li Pheow, also announced the completion of its Industry Centre, which houses research labs and learning facilities for students.

Mr Yeo said: "Having a plethora of skillsets alone is not sufficient for the demands of today's workforce. We need workers who are innovative and resourceful, and can solve challenging problems."