UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANISATION (UNESCO)

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANISATION (UNESCO)

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Assoc. Prof. Kalyani K Mehta asked the Minister for Education (a) if he will be able to provide more details about the Singapore National Commission for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) which is due to be set up by end of 2007 following Singapore's rejoining of UNESCO; (b) what are the plans to partner with other national institutions; and (c) how cultural and scientific exchanges with other UNESCO members will benefit Singaporeans.

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam: Singapore rejoined UNESCO on 8th October 2007. The Singapore National Commission will be established to coordinate Singapore’s policies and programmes in UNESCO. It will be chaired by Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister of State for Education and Manpower, with secretariat support provided by the Ministry of Education. Under the National Commission, three Sub-Commissions will be set up on Education, Science, and Culture & Information. These will be led by Ms Chang Hwee Nee, Deputy Secretary, MOE, Prof. Leo Tan from the National Institute of Education, and Ms Koh Lin-Net, Deputy Secretary, MICA, respectively. The membership of the National Commission and Sub-Commissions will comprise representatives from Government and non-government organisations.

The Singapore National Commission will work closely with partner institutions, including the National Environment Agency, Agency for Science, Technology and Research; institutions of higher learning and research organisations; professional and non-Government bodies like the Singapore National Academy of Science, the Academy of Principals and national arts, heritage and cultural institutions. The National Commission will also work closely with UNESCO's regional offices and institutes, as well as other National Commissions to foster greater international, regional and bilateral cooperation.

In the field of Education, we welcome the opportunity to build on our current efforts of sharing best practices with other countries in areas such as technical and vocational education, school management, teacher training and the use of information technology in teaching and learning. In the areas of Science and Culture, there is likewise enhanced opportunity to exchange views with experts from other countries and to participate in international discussions on issues like bioethics, environment and water management, as well as on the promotion of culture and heritage.

As part of the UNESCO family, Singapore will be able to tap on the resources and networks within UNESCO and its institutes. These would provide more avenues for Singaporean professionals in education, science and culture to interact with and learn from their counterparts in other countries.

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