Ubin School Brings Lessons on Singapore Environment, Land-Use Needs to Life

Initiative for Students Among Those Highlighted at Ubin Day Celebrations

- Ng Keng Gene

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, straw-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 work group to restore five vacant kampung houses, and updates on a species recovery effort.

A work group 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 work group will comprise Fun and kampung community members, as well as academics from fields such as built heritage and culture.