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Straits Times
5 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Ubin School brings lessons on Singapore's land-use needs, village life and environment to life
(From third from left) Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan, Education Minister Desmond Lee, NParks chief executive Hwang Yu-Ning and Pasir Ris-Changi GRC MP Valerie Lee with students from Commonwealth Secondary School. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Ubin School brings lessons on Singapore's land-use needs, village life and environment to life SINGAPORE – When biology teacher Jacob Tan goes with his students to Pulau Ubin's Chek Jawa Wetlands, they take in the sights and sounds – sand bubbler crabs, staw-headed bulbuls and oriental pied hornbills. But they also cast their gaze afar, at Pulau Tekong, where land reclamation is ongoing. Pulau Ubin could have met a similar fate. Plans to reclaim its eastern shore were deferred in the early 2000s after environmental groups and nature experts flagged the area's rich biodiversity. Mr Tan's students from Commonwealth Secondary School visited the island under the Ubin School initiative, launched in 2024 to provide experiential learning and environmental education there. It was one of the initiatives highlighted by Education Minister Desmond Lee at the annual Ubin Day celebrations on June 28, along with infrastructure improvements, a new workgroup to restore five vacant kampung houses, and updates on a species recovery effort. A workgroup under the Friends of Ubin Network (Fun) – a group of villagers, academics and nature and heritage enthusiasts established in 2014 – will be set up to guide the planned restoration of five vacant kampung houses, said Mr Lee. The workgroup will comprise Fun and kampung community members, as well as academics from fields such as built heritage and culture. It was announced a year ago that the five houses would be repurposed for community and commercial use. Mr Lee, who has been chairman of Fun since 2014, also said on June 28 that Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan will take over the role. Jacob Tan, a biology teacher at Commonwealth Secondary School, utilises field trips to Pulau Ubin to teach students about Singapore's competing land use needs. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Mr Lee previously helmed the National Development ministry before he took over the Education portfolio in May. He said that several infrastructural projects on Pulau Ubin have been completed in the past year, such as upgrades to the earth tracks leading to Puaka Hill and to Chek Jawa Wetlands from Jalan Durian, and improvements to roads and bridges. To address flood concerns, a new drain has been built in the main village, while an existing stage beside the village's wayang stage has been widened. These changes have significantly reduced water entering villagers' homes at high tide, said Mr Lee. The widened drain near the main village's Wayang Stage on Pulau Ubin. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Seasonal high tides and monsoon surges have caused flooding on the island, sending seawater flowing out of drains and spilling over banks in five low-lying areas of the island a few times a year. Mr Lim Chye Hee, 69, who runs a bicycle rental shop in the main village, said he hopes further drainage improvements will be made, as the area still becomes easily flooded especially during heavy storms. 'There are only two outlets and the water drain quickly enough,' he told The Straits Times, referring to the widened drain near the stage. Giving an update on a species recovery effort, Mr Lee said the first batch of cinnamon bush frog tadpole s introduced at two sites in Pulau Ubin in June 2024 has matured into adults and adapted well – a positive step for the vulnerable native species. 'These early observations are encouraging and represent hope for the species' conservation beyond mainland Singapore,' he said. (From left) Pasir Ris-Changi GRC MP Valerie Lee, Education Minister Desmond Lee and Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan speaking with Madam Yeo Hui Bake and Mr Lim Chye Hee, who run a bicycle rental shop in Pulau Ubin. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG The National Parks Board added in a statement that a second batch of tadpoles was introduced at a separate site in March 2025, and are being monitored. NParks said that in 2025, more than 3,600 trees of over 145 native species will be planted across 15 sites, including Chek Jawa Wetlands and Jalan Durian, as part of reforestation efforts on Pulau Ubin. As for Ubin School, more students are set to benefit from it, as biology teachers in training from the National Institute of Education (NIE) have been brought to the island to learn how to use it as an outdoor classroom. NIE associate professor Tan Aik Ling said that lessons conducted by teachers like Mr Tan from Commonwealth Secondary School that bring students to Chek Jawa reflects the growing focus on place-based learning . The teaching approach brings students out of classrooms and into the places they study to better appreciate their contexts. 'We are trying to get kids to look beyond the here and now,' she said. ' A place has a value in every point in time, and we want students to appreciate that. The decisions we make on places today will have an impact on how they are valued, or devalued, as we move along.' Mr Tan noted that reclamation is still a possibility, based on the authorities' plans. Having seen Chek Jawa for themselves, he added, any decisions made about the place become more real to students 'because they went there, saw wildlife, and then can imagine for themselves what happens if all these are covered by sand'. Ng Keng Gene is a correspondent at The Straits Times, reporting on issues relating to land use, urban planning and heritage. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.


CNA
18-06-2025
- Health
- CNA
Commentary: I am 86 and have dementia, but I still have much to give
SINGAPORE: I am now 86 years old, and I have Alzheimer's disease – a type of dementia. But I still have much to give. I can still sing, play mahjong and even write. As a matter of fact, I'm now in the midst of writing my memoir. I hope that by sharing my story, I will be able to inspire others facing similar challenges and encourage a more inclusive and supportive environment for people with dementia. LOST IN THE DARK In Singapore, about one in 11 people aged 60 years and above are living with dementia, according to a 2024 study by the Institute of Mental Health. This corresponds to about 74,000 older adults living with dementia in Singapore. As our population continues to age, this number is expected to increase to 152,000 by 2030. I used to have a good memory, which came in handy during my teaching career especially when it came to teaching thousands of kids over the decades. I began my career after my O-Levels at 16 years old, teaching maths at schools across Singapore before furthering my education. I later became the discipline master of Raffles Institution, and then principal of Commonwealth Secondary School and, subsequently, Bedok North Secondary School. Suffice it to say, education has been my life's calling. For me, the changes came quietly, almost unnoticeably at first. I would forget where I placed my keys and sometimes, where I parked my car, but I thought this was a normal part of ageing. One evening though, as I drove home from my tutee's house – a route I'd travelled countless times before – the roads felt strangely unfamiliar. I found myself driving in circles, feeling uncertain and unsettled. Eventually, I found my way back, but the incident scared me. I decided it was time to go for a check-up. What followed was a series of tests and eventually my worst fears were confirmed – I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. THE DIAGNOSIS The diagnosis was a blow to my sense of self. Frustration, disappointment and helplessness settled in as I tried to process my new reality. They told me this disease would slowly take away my sharpness, my speech and my independence - parts of me I thought I'd always have. Although I've tried to stay positive, it hasn't always been easy. Over time, I've struggled to recall names and places. I also take a longer time to think through and resolve problems. Tasks I once performed with ease, such as operating a remote control, now require extra effort because the different buttons can be confusing. There's also the fear of rejection – the worry that others might not understand me or may grow frustrated at having to repeat themselves. Some friendships have quietly slipped away because I can no longer recall the people, our bond, or the moments we once shared. But I've learned to navigate these challenges by surrounding myself with supportive family and friends who celebrate my victories, big and small. LIVING WITH THE DISEASE Not long after my diagnosis, I was referred to Dementia Singapore, the leading social service agency in specialised dementia care. There, I found a community that understands my situation. Through activities like memory cafes, exercise programmes and even opportunities to become an advocate for others, I'm reminded that life shouldn't have to stop because of my diagnosis. I've also learned strategies to help manage the progression of the condition. For example, I follow a structured daily routine to create a sense of stability and familiarity. Around the house, I keep a whiteboard as a visual reminder, where I jot down appointments and tasks to keep myself organised. Most importantly, I stay active by sharing my experiences as a co-facilitator at Voices for Hope, a programme that aims to empower people living with dementia and their care partners on a self-advocacy journey. In 2021, I wrote a poem called Forget Me Not that encapsulates my experience living with this condition. It was published by Dementia Singapore in 2023. WHAT I WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW Here's what I want people to understand. People with early-stage dementia can be active, engaged and lead fulfilling lives. We just need a little understanding and patience. To those newly diagnosed, I would like to say: don't despair, stay positive, continue engaging in activities you love and explore ways to manage your condition. Life doesn't stop with a diagnosis; it simply takes a different path. For care partners, I urge you to be patient, accepting and most importantly, respectful. Give your loved ones space to find ways to improve their cognitive abilities and encourage independence and support without being overprotective. This is a partnership, not a one-way street. That's why I prefer the term 'care partner' over 'caregiver'. It carries the warmth and understanding that we're in this together, working hand in hand. At this stage, dementia may change how we experience our journey, but the treasures of past still often remain accessible. While new information becomes harder to retain, it hasn't diminished our capacity to connect with others and live a life full of purpose.