SINGAPORE – Dr (Rev) Robert Balhetchet, who is well-known as Singapore’s ‘Mr Moral Education’, died on Tuesday from pneumonia. He was 76 years old.
Dr Balhetchet’s contribution to the education system here began in 1979 when he was tasked by the then Minister for Education Goh Keng Swee, to craft a moral education programme for schools. However, Dr Balhetchet lamented years later in an interview that he failed to create a stronger moral fabric in Singapore.
He had told The New Paper in a 2002: “Sadly, nobody gives a damn about moral education. Yet, the society still bemoans about everything and doesn’t realise it’s due to a lack of moral principles.
“But there was nothing wrong with my programme. A new one can be devised and it will still fail.”
Dr Balhetchet had put the failure down to a stronger emphasis on academic subjects in the education system. He worked with the Ministry of Education up till the 1990s.
“Many grow up to become smart crooks instead, like those CEOs behind all these corporate swindles around the world,” said the former rector of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, where he served between 1979 and 2001.
But he also had good things to say about his experience.
He said in the interview: “My 22 years as a civil servant was a very precious experience. I got to know first-hand what it was like to work in a secular place. Suddenly I knew what the man in the street meant by retrenchment, performance appraisal, discipline. As a priest, it helped me understand the lay person’s family problems better.”
Also known as “Father Bob” to his parish, Dr Balhetchet was ordained as a priest in 1964. A brilliant student of St Joseph’s Institution, he passed his A levels at 14. He surprised many with his mastery of nine languages, including Spanish, French and Tamil.
A heavy smoker, he had to rely on an oxygen tank and respirator in his later years.
Mr Alex Yam,MP for Marsiling-YewTee GRC, recalled his first meeting with Dr Balhetchet when he was a primary school pupil at Maris Stella High School, where the priest conducted mass.
“His wonderful singing voice and famous drawl that would fill a hall with wit and wisdom was one of the reasons drawing me to the mystery of the faith,” said the MP in his Facebook post yesterday.
In its obituary note, the Catholic Church acknowledged the role Father Balhetchet played as the overall coordinator for Pope John Paul II’s historic visit to Singapore in 1986.
Archbishop William Goh will preside over his funeral this Saturday (March 19) at 9.30am at the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Tanjong Katong, where his body is resting.
chenj@sph.com.sg
