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http://www.rosyth.moe.edu.sg/social/presentations/NE_Conference/NE_Conference.html 

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Updated : 8 June 2000

National Education Conference

28 July 99 

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NE–THE ROSYTH EXPERIENCE 

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SYNOPSIS
TARGET  GROUP
RATIONALE
OBJECTIVES
DESCRIPTION OF ACTION PROGRAMME
CONCLUSION

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SYNOPSIS
This presentation aims to share with fellow educators how Racial Harmony Day and Total Defence Day are commemorated in Rosyth School, adopting a whole-school approach involving the efforts of the NE committee in cooperation with other segments of the school community.  Also detailed is how the strategies to instil and develop NE values in our pupils have evolved over the past two years.

RATIONALE
National Education is not only about knowing our past.  It also encompasses an understanding of the conditions and environment in which we live.  Our pupils need to be aware of our history, vulnerabilities and constraints.  They need to have the knowledge, skills, positive values and attitudes to face the challenges of a rapidly changing and uncertain world.  We, as educators, have a crucial role to play in inculcating positive nation-building and character-building attitudes in our pupils through the NE programmes and activities developed in our schools.
 

OBJECTIVES
Through the programmes and activities conducted during the commemoration of key historical events, pupils should be able to:

• appreciate the importance of racial and religious harmony
• understand the need for self-reliance and a strong defence
• have a sense of  pride in our achievements and confidence in our future

INTRODUCTION
Rosyth School’s National Education committee is a component of the school’s Humanities Unit.  The NE coordinator heads the committee and is tasked with incorporating NE into the formal and informal curriculum.  Over the past few years, NE has been incorporated into the formal and informal school curriculum in various ways.  These include:
 

Infusing NE messages into the schemes of work of the various subject disciplines
National Heritage Tours to places of historical interest:                                       Kampong Glam (Primary 4)                    Chinatown (Primary 5)                            Little India (Primary 6)
Field Trips/Learning Journeys for every Upper Primary pupil
Social Studies Quizzes incorporating NE-related content
Project Work incorporating NE-related content
Display Boards on NE
NE in IT through CD-ROMs and the Internet
NE in music and performances
Celebration of cultural events and festivals such as Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Mooncake Festival during Cultural Days
Assembly programmes
Commemoration of Key Historical Events

The focus of this presentation is on two of the core events which are commemorated in the school:
Racial Harmony Day and Total Defence Day.

RACIAL HARMONY DAY (1997)

Racial Harmony Day is commemorated on 21st July each year.  This day was made significant as racial riots broke out in Singapore on 21st July 1964.  In 1997, a multimedia presentation titled “The Hard Road to Racial Harmony” was produced by the school and presented to all pupils during an assembly period.
 

TOTAL DEFENCE DAY (1998)

Total Defence Day is commemorated on 15th February each year.  The British surrendered to the Japanese during World War II on this day in 1942.  In 1998, a speaker from the National Heritage Board was invited to give an assembly talk.  Pupils also visited the Total Defence exhibition at Fort Canning.
 

THE TOTAL DEFENCE EXHIBITION AT FORT CANNING

The military display at the exhibition	A pupil firing a rifle
Trying out the binoculars on display	Having some fun at the exhibition

Considering certain drawbacks, the NE committee decided to conduct such future events using a whole-school approach and experiential learning where all segments of the school population – pupils, staff and parents – would contribute to and benefit from the programmes and activities planned.  This strategy meant that teachers from the various departments would be identified to play a role in carrying out the activities.

RACIAL HARMONY DAY (1998)
 

FOOD MAKING AND PREPARATION DEMONSTRATION

ROTI KIRAI DEMONSTRATION	THE ROTI KIRAI BEING PREPARED
PUPILS WATCHING INTENTLY	PARENT VOLUNTEERS MANNING  THE MURUKU STALL
GETTING THE MURUKU READY	THAT'S HOW IT IS MADE
PUPILS SERVING CHINESE TEA	ALL EAGER FOR A CUP
THE TEA POTS	TEA, ANYONE?
TEA SAMPLING BY TEACHERS	EXPLAINING THE FINER POINTS   OF TEA APPRECIATION

 

FOOD PARADISE !

Patronising the stalls	What's on the menu?
One of the stalls set up by parents	Pupils helping out at the stall
Soto Ayam for sale	Pupils manning the Soto Ayam stall
Crowding round the Epoh Epoh man	Epoh! Epoh!
All sold out!	Kacang Putih for sale!
The long queue for the Kacang Putih	Uncle, the green one please
Kacang Putih on the go!	The Kacang Putih man is here!
Which kind do you want?	Making the Kacang Putih cones
The Mee Pok man	That's how you 'tok tok'

 

RACIAL HARMONY DAY CONCERT

Mass participation	Concentrating hard
The Chinese orchestra in unison	The school military band
The school choir	The Chinese dance troupe
The king and I?	What's cooking?
Performing with gusto   at the concert	The finale - In harmony   Our principal addressing the school

Visit to Civil Defence Training Camp

Pupils visiting the Civil Defence Training Camp at Mandai

 

TOTAL DEFENCE ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOL

Queuing up for the food	Our cheerful canteen vendors
How does it taste?	Curry puffs?
Some of the 'delicacies'	Sweet potato and porridge
What do you think?	Yummy!!
Listening attentively to the speaker	Our guest speaker from the SAF
The school choir in action	Community singing
All ready for water rationing   Water IS precious	One of the water teams
Meanwhile . . .
	A group of pupils also attended the ceremony commemorating Singapore's surrender to the Japanese during the Second World War.  Held at the civilian war memorial on 15th February annually, one of our pupils was also selected to lay a wreath during the ceremony.

Have a Nice Day!

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