SPEECH BY MR THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF PELICAN COVE AT JURONG BIRDPARK ON SATURDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2004, AT 10.30AM

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen

INTRODUCTION
1      I am happy to be here this morning at the official opening of the Pelican Cove.

A LANDMARK TO BE PROUD OF
2      The Pelican Cove adds to the many engaging attractions at the Jurong BirdPark, which have made it one of the finest bird parks in the world and a landmark that Singaporeans can be proud of.  Opened in 1971, the BirdPark was the brainchild of Dr Goh Keng Swee who desired for Jurong to be more than an industrial area.  He wanted to create space that would meet the social and recreational needs of Singaporeans, where they can escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life and relax with nature.

3      And how exhilarating it is, for young and old.  It is particularly valuable for our young ones, for whom the opportunity to experience and interact with nature does not come easily in Singapore’s largely urban landscape.  Wildlife reserves such as the BirdPark help bring them to the splendour, the amusement, and the sheer wonder of nature.  They also educate them on the ecology of wildlife, and why conservation is so important.

ENLARGING THE CLASSROOM
4      So we are all glad that the BirdPark is playing a more expansive role in education.  It is complementing what our schools are seeking to do, as they experiment with new teaching methods to fire the imagination of our students.  The outdoor surroundings of the BirdPark offer a unique environment that schools can use to make learning vivid.

5      The BirdPark’s education department in fact started classroom-style lessons in July 2001.  From 2005, it will be offering 10 special educational programmes that tie in with the science syllabus to reinforce what students learn in schools.  For example, a programme on Nests and Eggs will show students how nests are made and the remarkable range of eggs that different bird species lay.  Students will also have a chance to learn what happens within an egg as the embryo grows, thus bringing to life their lessons on reproduction and life cycles.

6      Science may be a natural subject for the BirdPark and schools to collaborate on, but I am heartened that the BirdPark has also looked into complementing schools on other subjects.  It has collaborated with the Mathematics Department of the National Institute of Education (NIE) to launch the Jurong BirdPark Mathematics Trails, which present students with mathematical questions at different stations.

7      More recently, I understand that the BirdPark has also worked with NIE to offer the BirdPark trails to primary schools.  The BirdPark trails, which were launched on 12 Nov 04, allow students to work on cross-curricular tasks that test their vocabulary, mathematics and problem-solving skills.  Through taking part in these trails, the students learn to understand bird behaviour, identify bird species and develop skills in observing, recording and analysing, while enjoying themselves in a natural setting.

ANOTHER ATTRACTION
8      The BirdPark’s latest attraction, the Pelican Cove, provides yet another outdoor venue for learning and enjoyment.

9      The Cove will house the most comprehensive collection of pelicans in the world comprising seven species of the pelican family.  It also has the world’s only underwater pelican viewing display, allowing viewers to observe closely the birds’ fascinating feeding behaviour underwater.  Visitors will see, for example, how pelicans fish in a group  -  forming a circle and chasing the fish to the centre to trap them.

10      I am glad that Jurong BirdPark continues to build on its world-acclaimed reputation by pursuing new initiatives to refresh its offerings to visitors and making the BirdPark a vibrant park imbued with much educational value.  The Jurong BirdPark is a family place that all Singaporeans can be proud of.

CONCLUSION
11      It is now my pleasure to declare the Pelican Cove open.  I wish all of you an enjoyable morning.