Debated in Parliament on 9 May 2023.
Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Education (a) whether he can provide an update on the inclusion of content relating to animal welfare in the Character and Citizenship education syllabus; (b) what have been the findings from the introduction of this teaching element in terms of student engagement and impact; and (c) whether this teaching element makes reference to recent cases of animal cruelty.
Mdm Deputy Speaker, animal welfare is incorporated into subjects such as Character and Citizenship Education, Social Studies and Science. The contexts used to discuss such issues are regularly refreshed to include contemporary examples.
At the primary level, students learn about responsibility and care towards animals, including responsible pet ownership. Students at secondary and pre-university levels learn about making a positive difference to social and environmental issues including animal welfare. Some students have embarked on Values-In-Action Projects that contribute towards animal welfare and even started interest groups to promote animal welfare.
Mr Leon Perera.
Thank you, Mdm Deputy Speaker. I thank the Minister of State for her reply. A few supplementary questions. One is, does this curriculum also educate children about the penalties associated with acts of animal cruelty and what recourse they have if they witness acts of animal cruelty? Secondly, does the curriculum afford opportunities for students to interact with animals and shelters or other kinds of settings where they can have some actual interactions with groups that are promoting animal welfare and advocating against cruelty to animals?
I thank the Member for the two supplementary questions. Our teachers do incorporate useful information, including the impact of committing offences related to animal cruelty. On working with the community, our schools do have choices to work with community partners. I think we all understand that safeguarding the welfare of animals is indeed a shared responsibility, something that our schools endeavour to do together with parents and community partners.
Mr Louis Ng.
Thank you, Madam. I think Minister Grace Fu always says I ask for more and so, I should again. Could I ask whether the Ministry of Education (MOE) is going to expand this curriculum in terms of animal welfare? I think we have had it for many years and I am hoping that we can expand it further, so that we can create greater awareness on animal welfare issues and go upstream, in terms of solving some of the animal abuse that we are currently seeing in our community.
I thank the Member Mr Louis Ng for that question. We always review our curriculum and the curriculum is being published on MOE's website. On reviewing animal welfare content in our subjects, we will certainly do so, in due course, to meet our students' learning needs.
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