Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
31 January 2024
Ministry of Education implements Compulsory Education on Wildlife Rehabilitation
A collaboration between National Parks (NParks) and Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES) brings forth a new implementation of compulsory education on endangered species and wildlife rehabilitation in Singapore. There will also be learning journeys to Singapore’s first ever Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation for every Primary Five student starting from February 2024 onwards.
Singapore’s Minister of Education Chan Chun Sing, who announced the news on Jan 28’s Cabinet meeting, has said: “At the primary level, students learn about responsibility and care towards animals, including responsible pet ownership”.
The purpose of the lessons and learning journeys is to educate primary school students the different types of animals that are different than the pets they know at home, and the damage that has come with it over the centuries.
The endangered Hawksbill Turtle is the first type of species that students will learn about in the Character and Citizenship education syllabus as well as their Science lessons about biodiversity. Students will finally get to understand firsthand the impact of the decline of turtles in the ocean.
ACRES plays a detrimental part in this educational programme to engage and educate the students in class before visiting the animals at the rehabilitation centre. ACRES has done the research and has especially rescued Hawksbill turtles, to be able to teach the students the impact of these animals in our ecosystem.
In 2023 alone, ACRES rescued 3,139 animals and executed 133 education programmes.
NParks’ Group Director of Wildlife Management Ryan Lee also said that: “NParks will continue to work with organisations such as ACRES in our wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts, and raise awareness on the illegal wildlife trade to strengthen the protection and conservation of our native biodiversity and ecosystems.”
With this collaboration between NParks and ACRES, the Ministry of Education (MOE) hopes to bring awareness to future generations on the impact that has been done and the effort to secure the balance of the ecosystem again.
“It is not just about awareness anymore, but about change”, says co-chief executive of ACRES Kalai Vanan Balakrishnan.
-ENDS-
For further media information contact:
Qistina Hatta
Director of Public Relations
ACRES
Email: qistinahatta@acres.sg
Phone: +65 9753 4946
Keith Sng
Veterinary Science Programmes Manager
National Parks Board
Email: keith_sng@nparks.gov.sg
Phone number: +65 9888 9888
Email Pitch
Subject: MOE’s Learning Journey to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation
Hi Jack,
On behalf of Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) and National Parks Board (NParks), I reach out to you to pitch a newsworthy story for Channel News Asia on the MOE’s approach to educate the young about animal welfare, such as the increase of the endangered Hawksbills Turtle on our Singaporean shores.
Following the media release as attached, MOE implements not only in school curriculum, but also a hands-on learning journey for Primary Five students. The first school to embark on this learning journey is Elias Park Primary School; one of the few schools awarded President’s Award for the Environment on their commitment to environmental sustainability.
Minister of Education Chan Chun Sing is also accompanying the Primary Five students on this learning journey. Founder of ACRES and Nee Soon’s minister Louis Ng will also be attending to give a speech to the students.
Elias Park is just a neighbourhood school but practises sustainability throughout the entire school. They have many in-school initiatives, one even for Hawksbill turtles themselves. The students regularly do beach clean-ups as their Values-in-Action activities.
Here are the details of the first visit:
Venue: Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation, 6 Perahu Rd, Singapore 718827
Date & Time: February 12th, 2024, 3 p.m.
Total no. of students: 78
I hope you can look into it and explore how these children being exposed can make a difference. Do reach out if you need more information.
Kind Regards
Qistina Hatta
Director of Public Relations
ACRES
Post a comment