Speech by Minister of State for Education Gan Siow Huang at the School Green Awards 2024

Ms Isabella Huang-Loh, Chairman, Singapore Environment Council,

Mr Ho Tong Yen, Chief Executive Officer, Keppel Care Foundation,

Teachers, students, ladies and gentlemen,

1.A very good afternoon. It gives me great pleasure to be here with you at the School Green Awards 2024. Today we celebrate the outstanding efforts of our schools in promoting environmental sustainability through their remarkable projects.

2.Let me begin with a big congratulations to all our award recipients. Through your projects and initiatives, you have a shown great thoughtfulness and care into innovating solutions to make Singapore a greener and more sustainable city.

3.This year's theme is "Future Changemakers - Saving Tomorrow with Changes Today", which serves as an apt reminder that these awards are not just about recognising the achievements of our students, but acknowledging the power of our youth in shaping Singapore's sustainable future. To the over 300 schools who participated in this year's School Green Awards, your dedication to environmental stewardship is commendable and inspiring.

4.I would like to highlight three key areas where our schools are making a significant impact, and share some of the noteworthy projects from this year's awards.

5.Firstly, our schools have evolved into spaces for environmental learning. From pre-schools to our Institutes of Higher Learning, we're seeing innovative programmes that teach students about climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable living.

6.For example, one PCF Sparkletots pre-school at Nee Soon Central has expanded upon an initiative that engages 13 pre-schools, one primary school, and one secondary school in Yishun. Under the "Saving Earth Using Solar Lights and Sustainability Project", pre-school children promote environmental conservation using solar lights and sustainable living actions. To date, the students have distributed 150 solar lights to participating schools in the estate.

7.Secondly, I am encouraged by our schools' implementation of practical green solutions. Greenwood Primary School's rainwater harvesting system has saved more than 4,500 litres of water, while its food waste digesting machine has reduced food waste by 15kg thus far. The school's "Green In The Woods" initiative also promotes weekly recycling challenges, food waste reduction, and solar energy conservation.

8.Lastly, it is heartening to see greater emphasis on community engagement and collaboration as we strive to build a more sustainable nation. At Republic Polytechnic (RP), students from the RP Conservation Interest Group is championing the reduction of textile waste through community collaborations. They partnered with New Econ minimarts, a local franchise chain of minimarts, to transform polypropylene bags into tote bags, pouches, and stationery holders. They also collect clothes from peers in campus and sort them based on suitability for redistribution through partners like Swapaholic, a local social enterprise dedicated to promoting sustainable fashion.

9.The projects and initiatives we see here today would not be possible without the guidance and support of our dedicated teachers. To all educators present, thank you for guiding our youths through this process and cultivating a green mindset in them. When students understand the importance of sustainability, they too become advocates in their homes and communities, thereby spurring change among the wider public.

10.I would also like to express my appreciation to the Singapore Environment Council and Keppel Care Foundation for your partnership and dedication on this sustainability journey.

11.Let us continue to work together, innovate, and inspire others in our journey towards a greener, more sustainable Singapore.

12.Thank you.

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