National Education

Overview

National Education (NE) was launched in 1987. A significant aspect of CCE, NE comprises a wide range of school efforts that aims to:

1. Provide out students with the knowledge, skills and values to understand Singapore’s history, realities and challenges unique to our nation, appreciate our journey to nationhood, cultivate the instincts for survival as a nation, and have confidence in our nation’s future.

2. Be empowering and aspirational, allowing for individual sense-making, so as to nurture engaged citizens, who are socially aware, adept at critical thinking and informed about local, regional and global issues.

3. Help our students experience and explore their national identity as Singaporeans and foster a strong sense of belonging, reality, and hope which motivates our students to play a contributory role in their immediate communities and in the nation while they seek to achieve their personal life goals.

Key Dispositions

The following key dispositions for citizenship shape the purpose and approach to NE:

1. A Sense of Belonging: To develop a deeper understanding of who we are as Singaporeans, and a shared understanding of the values that are important to us as a nation.

2. A Sense of Reality: To be aware of the contemporary realities — including Singapore’s constraints and vulnerabilities — which affect us as a nation amidst the backdrop of a less predictable world.

3. A Sense of Hope: To have confidence and optimism in Singapore’s future and the resilience to face the challenges ahead.

4. (Culminating in) The Will to Act: To be active citizens who have a collective resolve and a sense of shared mission towards building a Singapore for all.

NE Experiences

Students go through various NE experiences such as values-in-action projects, cohort learning journeys, flag raising ceremonies and NRIC presentation ceremonies. However, the highlights for each year would be the NE Commemorative Days that are observed as a school. These are:

1) Total Defence Day (commemorated yearly on 15th February)

Uniformed Group cadets putting up a parade to commemorate Total Defence Day

Total Defence Day (TDD) marks the fall of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942. Schools commemorate TDD for our students to reflect on how Total Defence remains our best all-round response to threats and challenges that confront Singapore (e.g. terrorism, pandemics, cyber-attacks, influence campaigns, economic crises). They also reflect on the continuing relevance of the six Total Defence pillars (military, civil, economic, social, digital and psychological) and the core message of every Singaporean standing together, with each playing our part to protect Singapore and our shared way of life.

2) International Friendship Day (commemorated on the 3rd Friday of Term 2)

Schools commemorate IFD for our students to reflect on the importance to Singapore of:

• An active foreign policy to maintain our international space.

• Openness to the international flow of trade, ideas and talent.

• Cross-cultural skills and a global orientation.

• Mutual respect and understanding to maintain social cohesion in our multi-cultural society.

3) Racial Harmony Day (commemorated yearly on 21st July)

Racial Harmony Day (RHD) marks the anniversary of the 1964 racial riots. Schools commemorate RHD for our students to celebrate Singapore as a harmonious society built on a rich diversity of cultures, requiring collaborative efforts from all to promote social cohesion and harmony.

4) National Day (commemorated yearly on 9th August)

Uniformed Group cadets proudly marching in the State Flag for the school’s National Day Observance Ceremony in 2025

National Day marks our separation from Malaysia in 1965, and our emergence as an independent country in a community of nations. Since 1998, schools have commemorated National Day for students to reflect on the historical importance and solemnity of National Day.