First Day Resumption of Height-Based Activities at Jalan Bahtera Outdoor Adventure Learning Centre
Last Updated: 01 Feb 2023
On 28 November 2022, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced that height-based activities for school programmes would progressively resume from 1 February 2023, guided by enhanced safety measures in place. These activities, which have been suspended since February 2021, offer important educational benefits by allowing students to develop positive attributes such as self-confidence, teamwork, and resilience, and strengthen trust and relationships with peers and teachers.
2. Minister for Education Mr Chan Chun Sing visited the Jalan Bahtera Outdoor Adventure Learning Centre (OALC) on the first day of resumption to observe the conduct of height-based activities during Gan Eng Seng School's cohort camp. Close to 80 Secondary 3 students participated in the following height-based activities:
- Zipline;
- Abseil station;
- Climbing Wall; and
- Tower Circuit (High Challenge Course).
3. All of the above-mentioned activities operated at a reduced tempo of 50% or less of their normal operational capacity, which means that more time was allocated for students to participate in each height-based activity. This is part of the enhanced safety measures put in place by MOE for the resumption of height-based activities. The reduction of operating capacity will be in place from 1 February to 31 March 2023 to provide time for instructors to ease into their roles safely and responsibly.
Safe Management of Facilities and Equipment
4. At all OALCs, the overall management and operation of these height-based activities are overseen by MOE personnel who possess qualifications, knowledge, skills, experience and training based on the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) standards.
5. Facilities and equipment are inspected and maintained quarterly by ACCT-accredited professionals. This is supplemented by monthly in-house checks and pre-use checks by course instructors.
Safe Conduct and Supervision of Height-Based Activities
6. All course instructors and personnel supervising and conducting height-based activities must adhere to requirements and procedures for pre-activity checks, set-up, participant preparation and conduct of height-based activities. For example, the Tower Circuit (High Challenge Course) activity entails a safety briefing which includes checks on each participant's attire and equipment, physical and mental readiness, and his/her choice of activity participation level.
7. A multi-pronged approach is in place for the conduct of height-based activities:
- Safety supervisors: Only a Level 2 instructor can supervise the overall safety conduct of activities and management of rescue and evacuation situations for height-based activities. This individual will only perform safety supervision and not conduct height-based activities.
- Conduct of height-based activities: Certified instructors, assisted by activity supervisors, are responsible for the set-up and conduct of various height-based activities.
- Risk assessment and management: An appointed school personnel will oversee the implementation of the risk assessment and management plan, as well as the execution of the incident and emergency plan when required.
- Student well-being: Teacher facilitators will be assigned to look after the learning, general well-being and discipline of students participating in height-based activities.
8. In the event of rescue and evacuation situations, course instructors are equipped with specialised equipment to manage different scenarios. Schools using the OALC will also implement an Emergency Action Plan which includes roles and responsibilities of all personnel involved in managing such situations (e.g. staff who will assist to manage students, inform parents, as well as provide assistance to course instructors and medical personnel).
9. Instructors must undergo training at least once every year, which can include recertification courses by professional training providers or skills verification sessions by MOE.