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| Engaging teachers |
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on Marina Bay |
By Carol Lim |
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Marina Bay is abuzz with plans and efforts to make it a vibrant global city, Singapore’s future. What better way to get our young ones all keyed up and looking forward to their future city centre than to first engage and excite their teachers about it? That was what URA did at the Geography Teachers’ Association seminar on 8 April 2006. |
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SINCE NEWS THAT Singapore will be developing two integrated resorts (IRs) hit the headlines more than a year ago, public interest has not abated. It has hit a new high as the proposals for the Marina Bay IR are being evaluated currently. It was thus timely that the Geography Teachers’ Association chose to examine the impact of the IRs at their annual seminar this year.
As the Marina Bay IR is part and parcel of a larger vision and plan for the Marina Bay area, the seminar held at Meritus Mandarin Hotel on 8 April 2006 gave URA the perfect opportunity to set the ‘big picture story’ and share about other developments coming up at Marina Bay.
Creating mindshare
Themed “Blackjack or bluff: the geographies of Singapore’s integrated resorts”, the seminar discussed how Singapore will be transformed architecturally, economically, environmentally and socially by the future integrated resorts. The first to address the audience of 150 secondary and JC geography teachers, URA’s Head of Marina Bay Development Agency, Cheng Hsing Yao, shared URA’s vision and initiatives through a series of colourful slides. Held in rapt attention by his comprehensive and informative presentation, the audience were visibly thrilled by what is to come at Marina Bay, such as the Singapore Flyer, Business Financial Centre, Gardens-by-the-Bay, a new bridge across the bay and more water sports activities.
URA’s presentation set the stage for the next two talks by Mr Prithpal Singh of Hotel Properties Limited and Dr Peggy Teo of NUS to zoom in on IRs. Speaking from his business perspective, Mr Prithpal challenged the argument that the IRs will be the panacea to Singapore’s economic worries. Dr Teo’s provoked the audience to think how the IRs resemble theme parks.
Buzz time
The three talks were followed with a lively Q&A exchange between the speakers and the audience. Questions came fast and furious, most of which went beyond the IRs to cover the Marina Bay area.
Teachers from Raffles Girls’ School and NUS High asked about the environmental impact of future developments and water sports activities on the marine life and water quality of the bay. Another teacher from Presbyterian High wanted to find out how the road system will be improved to move people in and out of Marina Bay in view of the upcoming developments there. Other questions included the authenticity of the IR, how local players could be more involved in the its development and design, and how the IRs will answer the local need for tourism and leisure space. Exchanging views with the speakers, the teachers gained new perspectives and a deeper understanding and more complete view of the issues.
It was evident from these wideranging questions and the teachers’ interest and curiosity that not just the IRs, but the larger development of Marina Bay had truly captured their imagination. They left the enriching seminar thrilled and eager to share with their students on what’s in store for them at Marina Bay.
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URA’s Head of Marina Bay Development Agency, Cheng Hsing Yao, sharing on the plans for Marina Bay |
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