Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr Christopher de Souza, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC
Question
To ask the Minister for Education how have the heritage and identity of each Government school been preserved and passed on after the merger of primary and secondary schools.
Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr Christopher de Souza, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC
Question
To ask the Minister for Education (a) whether an update can be provided on how newly merged schools have begun to forge new identities; and (b) what is being done to actively live out the old traditions of each former school.
Response
1. When merging schools, MOE works with key stakeholders to preserve the schools' heritage and identity. The history, traditions and values of the merging schools are displayed in a heritage space or retained in artefacts such as the school mascot.
2. Newly merged schools seek to forge new identities by unifying their school community around common values, songs, and symbols such as the school crest. Stakeholders help to co-create these elements, fostering a greater sense of belonging to the school. Common experiences such as cohort camps and school-wide events are organised to build collective memories among the students. The forging of a new identity takes time and is an ongoing process for the newly merged schools.