Forest School Singapore, a groundbreaking institution renowned for its nature-centric approach to preschool education, is set to close its doors by November 5, 2024. Founder Darren Quek attributes this decision to a combination of market saturation in post-school activities for children and his personal struggle with burnout.
The Forest School, established in 2016, gained attention as the first of its kind in Singapore, offering an alternative forest-based outdoor education program for children aged three to nine. Quek revealed that after more than seven years, the school will cease operations due to the increasing competition in the market for extracurricular activities and the overwhelming demand for academic enrichment classes.
Quek, a 32-year-old outdoor educator, explained that the decline in enrolments was particularly noticeable after the COVID-19 pandemic, coinciding with the relaxation of pandemic restrictions for in-person private tuition. The school, which typically hosted around 160 children in its June holiday camps in 2022, saw registrations drop to half of that in June 2023.
In a recent phone interview, Quek expressed the challenging dynamics Forest School Singapore faced in Singapore’s educational landscape. He noted that the choice between forest school and academic enrichment classes often tilted in favor of the latter. Despite the decline, Quek believes that forest school pedagogy has lasting potential in Singapore.
The closure announcement was made on Forest School Singapore’s Instagram page on December 5. Quek disclosed that he had contemplated the decision for nearly six months before finalizing it in July 2023. He cited both the dwindling numbers and his own burnout as factors influencing the difficult choice.
Quek’s forest school initiative received attention during its initial years, with the surge in interest during the pandemic-induced travel restrictions. However, as global movement restrictions eased, sign-ups for forest schools experienced a notable decrease.
Quek expressed the emotional toll of being an entrepreneur in the education sector, describing the job as a constant 24/7 commitment, even during holidays. Despite the challenges, he firmly believes in the forest school pedagogy concept and envisions its potential in different forms, suggesting the possibility of a forest school tailored for elders or individuals with dementia in the future.
While Forest School Singapore is closing its chapter, Quek sees the decision as a step toward something new, akin to the nutrients from a fallen tree nurturing the growth of new saplings. He remains optimistic that the forest school concept will continue to evolve, even if he is not at the forefront of the effort.
