National Education

Mission

National Education (NE) is an integral component of Montfort Secondary School’s Character and Citizenship Education. National Education aims to instill in our students, confidence in our nation’s future and cultivate a sense of belonging and emotional rootedness to Singapore.

Instructional Programme

National Education Messages (1997)

Head, Hearts and Hand (2007)

In engaging the “Head”, students should be actively involved in their own learning. In engaging the “Heart”, students should connect emotionally with the Singapore story. In engaging the “Hands”, students should have opportunities to give back to society, and realise that everyone has a part to contribute to and create Singapore’s future, and, where possible, to lead in different fields of society.

Citizenship Dispositions (2017)

National Education is anchored on citizenship dispositions to guide our students to explore and examine their identity as Singaporeans and arrive at a common set of ideals and values as they take collective ownership of the future of the nation.

Purpose of NE at Montfort Secondary School

The NE Team seeks to achieve the following objectives:

To develop national cohesion, the instinct for survival and confidence in the future.
To foster a sense of identity, pride and self-respect as Singaporeans.
by knowing the Singapore story — how Singapore succeeded against the odds to become a nation.
To understand Singapore’s unique challenges, constraints and vulnerabilities, and the significance of racial harmony.
To instill the school values as our way of life, and to develop the 4 NE dispositions to ensure our continued success and well-being.
To nurture our students to be Confident Persons, Self-directed Learners, Active Contributors and Concerned Citizens, able to exhibit care and concern to self, others, the school, the community and the nation.
To develop the following skills in our students:
- Civic Literacy, Global Awareness and Cross-Cultural Skills
- Critical and Inventive Thinking
- Information and Communication skill

MSS NE Experiences

Curriculum

Infusion of NE into Montfortian Values Plus (MVP) lessons, subjects and learning journeys.

Commemoration of the 4 Core NE Events

Total Defence Day is commemorated on 15 February annually to mark Singapore’s fall to the Japanese in 1942. Total Defence is the cornerstone of Singapore’s deterrent strategy. Total Defence Day serves to remind Montfortians that Singapore is defensible and is worth defending, and we ourselves must defend Singapore. Total Defence is crucial to the continued security, survival and success of the country.

Theme – We Keep Singapore Strong

Learning Outcomes

Understand the rationale behind Total Defence
Know that Total Defence is the cornerstone of Singapore’s deterrent strategy
Recognise that Total Defence is crucial to the continued security, survival and success of the country.

Key Highlights

Talk on Total Defence and National Service by MINDEF
Quiz on TDD by NE Ambassadors
Crime and counter-terrorism booth by SPF
Fire drill
Food rationing
Sec 1-2 MVP Skit on Pillars of Total Defence
Sec 3-5 MVP Engaging with contemporary issues on national interest and defence

International Friendship Day is a day dedicated to the understanding of Singapore’s relations with neighbouring countries and beyond. IFD provides a good opportunity for students to explore Singapore’s connection to the region and the world. Commemoration of IFD help Montfortians gain a deeper appreciation of regional cooperation and infuse students with a global outlook that makes them open to working well with people of different cultures; both within Singapore and in the world at large.

Theme – Interconnectedness

Learning Outcomes

Understand the importance of good relations with our neighbours and beyond.
Know that Singapore pursues an active engagement in the world evidenced by our membership in many international organisations such as ASEAN and the United Nations.
Learn from the different backgrounds and experiences of people in our neighbouring countries and continue maintaining our good relations with them.

Key Highlights

Aesthetic programme on International Friendship Day
Booth with displays on the cultures of people from different ASEAN countries.
Sec 1-2 MVP- Building international friendship through sports and games (traditional games
Sec 3-5 MVP Building international friendship through languages (ASEAN languages)

Racial Harmony Day is commemorated on 21st July. On this day in 1964, Singapore saw racial riots. Racial Harmony Day serves to remind our pupils that social division costs us dearly and that race and religion are potential fault-lines in Singapore society. It is a day for the school and Montfortians to reflect on, and celebrate our success as a harmonious nation and society built on a rich diversity of cultures and heritages.

Theme – Multicultural Singapore

Learning Outcomes

Understand and respect the customs and traditions of the different races and religions to coexist peacefully.
Learn about the consequences of a breakdown in racial and religious harmony, from our history and recent incidents in the world.

Key Highlights

Aesthetic programme on Racial Harmony Day
Booth with displays on the Traditional Games of the different ethnic groups in Singapore.
Sec 1-2 MVP- Personal sharing on identity and race
Sec 3-5 MVP Class discussion on ethnic policies in Singapore and countries around the world.

National Day marks our Separation from Malaysia, and our emergence as an independent country in the community of nations. The annual National Day Ceremony aims to bring to Montfortians a greater sense of the historical importance and solemnity of National Day.

Theme – Together a Stronger Singapore

Learning Outcomes

To provide opportunities for students to examine and explore the question of what it means to be Singaporean and to consider the society that they would like to build.

Key Highlights

Aesthetic programme on National Day
National Day Parade in collaboration with Montfort Junior School. Reading of recollection and National Day Message
NS Alumni engagement

Learning Journeys

Learning Journeys aim to instill Montfortians, pride in Singapore’s achievements, to help them understand Singapore’s constraints, challenges and opportunities, build their confidence in our future, and nurture a sense of belonging to Singapore. Besides helping to make real and concrete what has been learnt in schools, LJ will broaden the mental horizons of students and contribute to their total development.

NE Ambassadors

NE Ambassadors are student leaders who want to promote citizenship values in the school and are role models of youth citizens in Singapore. They are also highly involved in NE school events, like the commemoration of Total Defence Day and National Day Celebrations. NE Ambassadors will undergo Leadership Training in Term 3.

NE Quiz

All Secondary 4 students will take the NE Quiz which aims to test pupils’ knowledge and understanding of National Education.