Four pairs of primary schools along with five pairs of secondary schools are to merge between 2022 and 2024, according to the Ministry of Education (MOE). They recently released a press release (Wednesday, 7 April) to share and discuss what happens when schools merge.
“These schools were identified based on enrolment trends, [the] geographical proximity of the schools to be merged, suitability of merger partners and the receiving schools’ infrastructure capacities,” said MOE.
Singapore Schools To Be Merged
Image source: Facebook / Ministry of Education, Singapore
This move has been made due to declining birth rates and changing demographics in housing estates. It has led to falling enrolment in several schools. While some areas are experiencing rising demand for spots in schools.
The primary schools that were paired to be merged are:
- Juying Primary School and Pioneer Primary School
- Eunos Primary School and Telok Kurau Primary School
- Farrer Park Primary School and Stamford Primary School
- Guangyang Primary School and Townsville Primary School
While the secondary schools that are to be merged include:
- Bedok Green Secondary School and Ping Yi Secondary School
- Chua Chu Kang Secondary School and Teck Whye Secondary School
- Fajar Secondary School and Greenridge Secondary School
- New Town Secondary School and Tanglin Secondary School
- Fuchun Secondary School and Woodlands Ring Secondary School
MOE adds that one primary school merger pair from Jurong West is also set to be relocated to Tengah New Town. It will be the first primary school in that area “to meet the demand for primary school places from young families there.”
All the mergers will take place in 2023, except for Juying Primary School and Pioneer Primary School, which will merge in 2022, instead. In addition, Fuchun Secondary School and Woodlands Ring Secondary School will merge in 2024.
Schools In Singapore To Be Merged Between 2022 & 2024
|
|---|
| Schools To Be Merged In 2022 |
Location Of Merged School |
| Juying Primary School & Pioneer Primary School |
Temporarily in Juying Primary School location; to relocate to a new school site in Tengah tentatively around 2025 |
|
|---|
| Schools To Be Merged In 2023 |
Location Of Merged School |
|
Eunos Primary School & Telok Kurau Primary School
|
Telok Kurau Primary School location |
|
Farrer Park Primary School & Stamford Primary School
|
Farrer Park Primary School location |
|
Guangyang Primary School & Townsville Primary School
|
Townsville Primary School location |
|
Bedok Green Secondary School & Ping Yi Secondary School
|
Bedok Green Secondary School location |
|
Chua Chu Kang Secondary School & Teck Whye Secondary School
|
Teck Whye Secondary School location |
|
Fajar Secondary School & Greenridge Secondary School
|
Fajar Secondary School location |
|
New Town Secondary School & Tanglin Secondary School
|
New Town Secondary School location |
|
|---|
| Schools To Be Merged In 2024 |
Location Of Merged School |
|
Fuchun Secondary School & Woodlands Ring Secondary School
|
Woodlands Ring Secondary School location |
Information source: Ministry of Education
As for the names of the merged schools, these will be announced later.
What Happens When Schools Merge: Merging Of Juying Primary School & Pioneer Primary School
Image source: Facebook / Ministry of Education, Singapore
Since both Juying Primary School and Pioneer Primary School are located in mature areas, MOE says enrolment in these schools have been falling consistently in recent years.
The schools are to merge in early 2022, in order to facilitate a revised alignment of the Jurong Reign Line, which will run through Pioneer Primary.
“Additionally, to meet the upcoming demand for primary school places in Tengah, and taking into consideration the declining demand in the Jurong West area, the merged school will temporarily be at JYPS’ current site. But will eventually relocate to a new school site in the Plantation District of Tengah, expected to be from January 2025,” adds the ministry.
It was also clarified that the merged school will not be admitting new Primary 1 cohorts at its temporary site between 2022 to 2024.
It will instead admit its first batch of Primary 1 students after relocating to the new campus located in Tengah in 2025. The merged school’s existing students will remain at the current campus of Juying Primary School while the last batch of Primary 6 students will graduate in 2026.
“This means that from 2025 to 2026, the merged school will operate two campuses to minimise the need for their primary five and six students to commute to the new campus in Tengah,” says MOE.
It was also mentioned in the press release that due to the pandemic, the rebuilding and improving programme for Woodlands Ring Secondary was delayed and will only be completed in 2023.
Therefore, the merging of Fuchun Secondary School and Woodlands Ring Secondary School is set for 2024, instead.
MOE Will Ensure A Smooth Transition
Image source: Facebook / Ministry of Education, Singapore
Incidentally, the teachers and staff have mixed feelings regarding what happens when the schools merge that is set to take place over the next three years.
“Personally, (I had) mixed reactions because we have a long history and we also have kids who are very used to the school. With this change, they’ll need some time to adjust,” Principal of Stamford Primary School Cassie Fan tells CNA.
“Of course I’m also happy because the students will be able to experience a more vibrant educational experience. And there will be a wider range of educational programmes, CCAs, for them,” she added.
But MOE assured that they will be working closely with the affected schools to ensure smooth transitions for the merged schools along with their students and staff.
For the history and heritage of both schools, they will be documented in a “heritage space” in the new merged school building. The ministry also said that there will be no retrenchment of MOE staff.
Students are excitement about this move
There are also many students who have expressed their excitement about the move. Principal of Eunos Primary Grace Ong says on CNA, “The children were excited because some of them have friends in Telok Kurau. They were looking forward to when the (schools are) merged, they will be able to have recess with their friends or have common experiences with their friends.”
She also said children were excited “by the new possibilities” and were asking what kind of CCAs there would be. Mrs Ong adds, “Some of them were asking in terms of the canteen food, for instance, some of the facilities, so they were quite excited by some of the more physical changes that they might experience when they go over to the merged school building.”
“In deciding to merge schools, our key consideration is to be responsive to changing demographics and community needs, whilst providing an optimal student experience. We will work with the school stakeholders to continue their strong support for their schools,” concluded MOE in their press release.
Lead image source from Facebook / Ministry of Education, Singapore.
News Source: CNA
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