The purposes outdoor education does, could and should serve in Singapore

Abstract

This paper discusses the purposes that outdoor education does, could and should serve in Singapore. Gert Biesta’s conceptualisation of three functions of education is adapted to frame deliberations on the purposes of outdoor education in Singapore’s socio-political and educational milieu. The author suggests that outdoor education in Singapore could and should give high priority to serving three educational purposes; namely, building resilience, building emotional bonds with the place that constitutes Singapore, and building ecological literacy. In pursuing such purposes, outdoor education in Singapore might lessen the gap between the educational outcomes it currently produces and those it could achieve in the future.

Keywords:

• Outdoor education
• Purposes
• Singapore

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Professor Noel Gough for his valuable insights and guidance.

Notes

1. Renamed co-curricular activities in 2000.

2. A Malay word to describe fishing villages built on stilts.

3. The CPE was established in April 1984. Its primary function was to train specialist teachers of PE for secondary schools and junior colleges. The philosophy of the CPE was expressed in its motto ‘Physical Education for Life’ and aimed to produce ‘thinking’ PE teachers (Aplin, Kunanlan, Tan, & Jong, 2010).

4. The policy has since been revised in the year 2004 to providing every child with at least two camping experiences in their secondary school years.

5. Known as the Co-Curricular Activities Branch from 2000 to 2011. The department is now part of the Physical and Sports Education Branch, formed since December 2011.

6. These usually come in the form of three-day camps that cater to a level of about 300 students at a time.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Susanna Ho

Susanna Ho is one of the pioneers who started the outdoor education department within the Singapore education ministry in 1999. She is currently a senior specialist overseeing outdoor education curriculum in Singapore schools. Prior to the MOE HQ posting, she was teaching physical education and mathematics in the secondary levels. She was awarded the MOE postgraduate scholarship in 2007 and she has recently received her doctoral degree from the Centre for Excellence in Outdoor and Environmental Education at La Trobe University. Since returning to the MOE from her studies, she has been working with schools on the implementation of their outdoor education programmes and is actively involved in the review of the national physical education curriculum.