Speech by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education Mr Mohamad Maidin Packer Mohd at the Workshop on Critical Thinking Through Adventure Education (2 Aug 2001)

SPEECH BY MR MOHAMAD MAIDIN PACKER MOHD, SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AT THE WORKSHOP ON CRITICAL THINKING THROUGH ADVENTURE EDUCATION ON THURSDAY, 2 AUGUST 2001 AT 9.30 AM AT KENT RIDGE GUILD HOUSE, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE

Ladies and gentlemen,

1. I am very pleased to be here at this workshop on Critical Thinking Through Adventure Education.

2. Our education system aims to provide our students with the opportunity to excel academically. It also gives them a broader vision of the world and their place within it. Besides academic subjects, our students are encouraged to participate in community service programmes involving the environment, the elderly, and the less fortunate, among others. These programmes cultivate a habit of community service, and help to develop character and nurture leadership skills.

3. However, we should not imagine that simply possessing good intentions is sufficient for our students to become active and dynamic citizens. We are mindful of the practical dimensions of community service, for example, real-life problem-solving skills. In other words, our students not only have to feel that they want to do community service, they must also be taught how to do this well.

4. It is indeed appropriate for this workshop to be organised for this purpose. I understand that the Youth Expedition Project of the SIF is well known for its efforts to support youth groups in organising and financing overseas expeditions. On the other hand, the University Scholars Programme aims to develop talented students and help produce global citizens.

5. All of us, I am sure, look forward to hearing about how different educational institutions organise outdoor and adventure activities. We can learn how these ideas can be adapted and implemented throughout our education system. We can then combine successfully the means of imparting civic responsibility, and outdoor- and community-oriented competencies, to develop our students into active citizens in community service.

6. On this note, I wish you an enjoyable and fruitful workshop.