-Recent pace of modernization that has been eroding our heritage, both in terms of physical structures as well as the values placed on understanding our heritage. To address the consequence of the second point, the Singapore government has sough upon several measures to promote our heritage and the importance of it.
(1) The introduction of Singapore Heritagefest
Heritagefest 2007 for example invites Singaporeans to share their personal stories and in the mean course, strengthening our bonds and develop a better understand of each other.
-According to the government, this is an “effort to better appreciate our cultures, heritage and national history to give us a sense of purpose and belonging.”
-Story-telling tradition that was once a way of life with our grandparents has developed in them a strong identity and appreciation for Singapore’s heritage. With modern media, this practice has been vanishing.
-For a long time is human history, civilization passes down value systems, cultures, customs and folklores which encapsulated key moral values and aspirations, through story telling. This effective form of practice that has been with us as a tradition is the measure we are using to promote our heritage.
However, though this is creative, the effectiveness has provoked me to address it here. In my opinion, such programmes or campaigns do not effectively address the root of the problem. The root of erosion of heritage values and curiosity has been much the effect of not solely modernization, but the emergence of pragmatism among our youths of today. With the many roles and responsibilities youths as well as working adults faces, such as grades and career advancement, their mindset eventually puts the understanding of culture and heritage to the lowest of their priority, if they are at all concerned with it. These ‘concerns’ to them have no real implications of their successes or well-being in life. However, as a society, this is an issue for us. Why should be concerned about it? It is not the idea of knowing who we are. It is about being committed to our identity as a nation. The lack of such a commitment to an identity, or a place we would call home is causing what we now see as a brain drain away from Singapore. Hence, empasis on heriatge promotion should be based more on the education system.
(2) Incorporating Heritage into schools
-Heritage has been incorporated into schools such as in the history and social studies syllabus
-Schools like National Junior College promotes cultural mapping to increase the heritage awareness among students, collect and compile the heritage at bukit timah, as well as to organize heritage trails to promote the heritage of Bukit Timah to other schools.
-Learning journeys has been in place for secondary schools to various learning journey sites to inculcate in pupils a idea of the diversity of cultures in Singapore.
(3) -Peranakan Museum was set up to cover more aspects of Singapore’s diverse heritage culture.
-peranakan culture was one of our unique heritages.
(4) Conservation of physical heritage
-Heritage conservation center under NHB seeks to conserve artifacts through preventive as well as interventive conservation. -conducts research and ensures that proper storage and display conditions are achieved for all the collections in the care of NHB.
-Restoration works carried out on some old historical buildings rather then destroying them.
-Conservation of historical buildings and heritage sites to preserve the physical landscape of Singapore, such as the shop houses along Chinatown.
-Chinatown heritage center was jointly set up by STB and NHB to portray the Chinatown’s heritage.
. http://www.mica.gov.sg/pressroom/press_070404.htm
www.ne.edu.sg/lj.htm
compiled by caijie
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