Persatuan Pengakap Singapura

Persatuan Pengakap Singapura (; ; disingkatkan kepada SSA) ialah badan kepanduan utama di Singapura. Ia merupakan salah satu gerakan belia tertua di negara tersebut.

History

Penubuhan 
Badan ini diperkenalkan ketika negara tersebut merupakan sebuah Negeri Selat pada 1908 dan diarasmikan pada 2 July 1910. Seorang pegawai pandu dari Nottingham bernama Frank Cooper Sands ditugaskan di sana pada September 1910 selama 40 tahun sebagai antara pelopor utama persatuan yang wujud pada hari ini  dengan sebarisan perintis disertai sebanyak 30 orang remaja - beliau turut diberi jolokan "Bapa Pengakap Malaya" (Father of Malayan Scouting) atas keterlibatan ini. Bidang kepanduan mula terbuka kepada warga setempat SIngapura dengan lantikan Kapten-Kapten N. M. Hashim dan A. Z. Alsagoff pada tahun 1919 

Kegiatan dilakukan badan ini diperkenalkan ke dalam sekolah-sekolah seluruh SIngapura pada tahun 1922  melalui rancangan kokurikulum Scout Programme.

Semasa Singapura berada dalam gabungan Persekutuan Malaysia dari 1963 to 1965, SSA menjadi sebuah badan dalam Persekutuan Pengakap Malaysia.

Pada masa kini 

Today, there are 10,292 Scouts in Singapore serving in four mainstream Scout sections. Each section caters to the needs of Scouts in a specific age range through its different program focus. The Cub Scout section comprises youths between ages 7 and 12 (primary school) while the scout section is made up of youths from 12 to 16 (secondary school). In addition, there are the Venture Scout and Rover Scout sections which accept youths between the ages of 15 and 18 and young adults from 17 to 25 respectively. Besides the mainstream Scout sections, there is also the Sea Scout section, which comprises Sea Scouts, Sea Venture Scouts and Sea Rover Scouts, and the Extension Scouts which is open to all physically or mentally disadvantaged youths who enjoy Scouting.

Previously, there was also the Air Scout section which was abolished. However, in 2011, the Air Scout programme has been restarted and the section has been renamed as Black Knights Air Scouts. On 24 March 2012, an investiture ceremony was held to officially welcome the latest batch of Air Scout Rovers. Some 20 students and two lecturers from ITE College Central’s Black Knights Air Scouts, completed the airborne training conducted by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) from 5 to 8 July 2012, during their Overseas Training Program 2012, in Bangkok, Thailand.

Scouting in Singapore is not only available to schools but also to the general community. The Scout units based in community are usually open units. They often work hand in hand with their respective RCs with community projects while using these RCs as their Scout's "base". There are also several foreign Scout groups, mainly the international schools, in Singapore that actively participate in the Singapore National & Area Scouting events.

The emblem uses the red and white from the Flag of Singapore, plus the 5 stars and crescent symbolizing unity of Scouts regardless of ethnic origin, religion or mother language.

Organisasi 
Presiden Republik Singapura merupakan Ketua Pengakap (Chief Scout) Singapura - yakni pemegang kuasa tertinggi dalam Persatuan Pengakap Singapura; beliau ditugaskan dalam pemberian waran dan anugerah kepada ketua dan pesuruhjaya dewasa berunifrom yang dicadangkan ibupejabat SSA. Ketua Pengakap juga menganugerahi anggota belia yang menunjukkan kecemerlangan tertinggi dengan Anugerah Pengakap Presiden.

Ibupejabat yang diketuai Ketua Pengakap dipimpin Majlis Pengakap yang terdiri daripada pegawai-pegawai beruniform dan tidak beruniform yang ditugas membantu Ketua Pengakap dalam urusan beliau.

The Scout Council is headed by an elected President of the Association, together with his Vice Presidents and Council members. There are several committees formed up to look into the various aspects of the Association including the Finance Committee, Uniform Committee, and Scout Shop Committee.

The Commissioner's Council is the highest operational policy and directive body headed by Chief Commissioner. The Commissioner's Council structure as follows:

 Chief Commissioner
 Deputy Chief Commissioners
 Assistant Chief Commissioners
 National Training Commissioner
 National Programme Commissioner
 Area Commissioners
 Membership Growth Commissioner
 Partnership Commissioner
 Adult Resource Commissioner
 Programme Resource Commissioner
 International/Relations Commissioner
 District Commissioner

The National Training Commissioner is the head of National Training Team whose role is to provide adult leader training towards Woodbadge.

The National Program Commissioner is the head of National Program Council whose role is to provide Scouting Programs and updates for all youth members.

The International/Relations Commissioner is the head of International/Relations Department that handles both relations within Singapore and internationally.

Lihat juga 
 Pandu Puteri Singapura

Rujukan

Pautan luar 
 Official website
 BSA Sea Scout official website
 Singapore Scout Guild
 Singapore Rovers resource website