The Straits Times recently reported on the name of the new Junior College (JC) taking in Integrated Programme (IP) students from 3 secondary schools.
The name - Eunoia Junior College
Acting Minister for Education, Ng Chee Meng announced the name of the school on Tuesday, 29 December during the yearly appointment and appreciation ceremony for principals at the Shangri-La Hotel. There, he explained that the name"Eunoia" came from the word, εὔνοια a Greek word, and means "beautiful thinking" and "goodwill towards others".
The name will serve as a guide for the teaching philosophy, with Mr Ng stating that, "I'm confident that the college will work hard at nurturing students to have these qualities in addition to possessing innovative thinking and developing the Singapore heartbeat".
The new JC will have its first batch in 2017 with students hailing from, Catholic High School, CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls' School and the Singapore Chinese Girls' School.
The IP allows students to enter JC without going through the General Cambridge Examinations, Ordinary level (GCE O'Level). This new JC will also accept O-level students from other secondary schools.
An advisory committee for the JC has been appointed effective from Dec 22, 2015, to Dec 21, 2017. The 6-member team is led by Professor Su Gauning, a Singaporean academic and the President Emeritus of Nanyang Technological University and consists of parents and grassroots leaders.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) showed that they too have a sense of humour with their official response to the media storm that brewed after the announcement of Eunoia's name.
In a follow-up by the Straits Times, Singaporeans have jumped on the name and given it the signature Singaporean spin, terming it "You know, ya".
The name sparked a huge degree of interest, resulting in it becoming the top Google search by users in Singapore on Tuesday 29 December, with more than 10,000 searches.
Singapore's netizens have started posting their thoughts of the new name.
twitter.com/rettsufied/status/681821008471298048
Our very own SGAG illustrated a comment on the Straits Times Facebook page,
What do you think of this name?