BUILDING ON BORROWED SPACE : THE SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Abstract

The establishment of a Singapore International School in Hong Kong was first announced in 1991. It is to be run by a board of directors consisting of some of Hong Kong's most influencial as well as economically powerful personalities. The main objective of such a decision is to provide a continuation of a Singaporean education overseas, and prepare its student for subsequent reimmersion into system when they return home. It will therefore adopt education policies and cirricula set by the Ministry of Education. The school will operate between the hours of 8:30 am and 3 :00pm, during which an additional hour for leisure and creative activites is being incorporated in addition to the normal curriculum. It will have a total staff population of about 50 and a total intake of 750 students, of which 70% are Singaporeans. The remaining 30% comprises of AIPs ( Approval In Principal) and other nationalities. This is the first international school that is to be set up based on the Singaporean education system - a phenomenon made possible by the expansion and concious externalisation of Singapore's economy. The impact of gobalisation is radically changing our attiudes and understanding of society. Inevitably, it will lead to shifts in the context of operation and the creation of new meaningful environments. Institutions established to track the Singaporean diaspora often reflects this change in attitude -and outlook within the society. The Singaporean International Foundation and the Singapore International School are two such examples. Such institutions are direct products of the process of globalisation. The thesis thus seek to understand and anticipate the impact of the creation of the Singapore International School; and hence its role within the expatriate Singaporean community in Hong Kong.