Dunman Secondary School

Dunman Secondary School
Sekolah Menengah Dunman
德明中学
Address
21 Tampines Street 45, Tampines East
Tampines
Singapore
Information
Type Autonomous Secondary, co-educational
Motto Pengetahuan Suloh Hidup  (Malay)
Knowledge – The Torch of Life
Established 1963
Session single session
School code 3207
Principal Suresh Balakrishnan
Colour(s)  Beige   Brown   White 
Nickname Dunmanites
Website dunmansec.moe.edu.sg

Dunman Secondary School (Abbreviation: DMN) is an autonomous co-educational secondary school in Tampines, Singapore, founded in 1963.

School history

Dunman Integrated Secondary School (1960s)

Dunman Secondary School was founded in 1963 as Dunman Integrated Secondary School, with Mr Au Keng Chu as the first principal.[1] The school was named after Thomas Dunman, the first Commissioner of Police in Singapore from 1856 to 1871.[1] It was the first integrated school in Singapore—an experiment to develop a common educational experience for children of different races and languages. Dunman Secondary Integrated School was situated at Haig Road and shared a large field with Dunman High School and Dunman Primary School.[1]

Pupils were enrolled into the school even as the building was under construction. Nine English-stream secondary one classes were conducted at Matter West Vocational Institute while three Malay-stream secondary one classes were at Tun Seri Lanang school. Mr Felix Chew and Mr Abdul Kadir headed the respective schools. The completed school consisted of three buildings. The main building had four floors of airy classrooms and staff rooms. The science laboratories were in a shorter building opposite the main building. Next to the laboratories was a strip of garden where the science teachers grew plants used in the botany class. The school hall was one floor above the canteen or "tuck-shop" (as it was called then).

On 21 July 1964, a race riot broke out in Singapore but the school was spared as classes were not in session. However, six weeks later, fresh riots broke out at Joo Chiat area, two kilometres from the school. For students whose parents did not came by, Mr. Au organised the teachers and staffs to ferry them home. The neighbours who lived around the school were to be commended for their kindness and help. When the news of the riots broke, all the canteen operators fled. Thus during the ordeal, there were no foods or drinks for the staffs and students. It was the neighbours of all races who brought biscuits, drinks and other foods.

"When school re-opened, the pupils returned to school surprisingly unaffected by the scary reports of the past few days of fights in their locality. I believed that the conduct of the teachers of the different language streams working solidly together to see to the safety and the welfare of the pupils regardless of their race could have impressed them and their parents that all could be well if we could put aside our differences. The conduct of my staff was exemplary."

— Mr Au Keng Chu, first principal of Dunman Secondary School, 1963

Development

In the 1970s, Dunman Secondary students initiated put up a Youth Day performance, and the school was invited to put up the same item for that year's National Day Parade for its impressive work. It was a rare honour as Dunman was the only school invited to do so that year. A new academic building was erected in 1971 to meet the needs of the students.[1]

The former Dunmanite's Association (FDA) was formed in 1985, and the PCCG programme was piloted. Dunman Focus, a quarterly newsletter, also made its debut. The Students' Council was formed as a replacement to the Prefectorial Board. On 20 May 1990, Dunman Secondary School relocated to its new campus at Tampines Street 45. A new block of classrooms was completed in the 1990s and the school went single-session.[1]

Attainment of autonomous status

In 2000, in recognition of strong consistently strong academic results and co-curricular achievements, Dunman Secondary School was announced by the Ministry of Education to be accorded as an autonomous school in 2001. In the same year, the School received the Thinking Culture Award, Best School East Zone as well as the value-added award. Dunman Secondary School emerged as one of the five schools to receive the Singapore Quality Class in 2001, as one of the first schools in Singapore to receive the Award.[1]

In 2002, the Dunman Life Sciences Training and Research Centre was launched by Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for National Development Dunman Secondary received the prestigious Public Service Award for Organisation Excellence from SPRING, Singapore in 2006. It also received the Singapore Innovation Class and the Partner's Award.[1]

In 2007, Dunman Secondary received the School Distinction Award, Sustained Achievement Award for Academic Excellence, Character Development Award and National Education Award. It also received the East Zone and National Thinking Culture Award valid for 2 years from 2007. In the same year, Dunman Secondary School was selected for upgrading works under the Ministry of Education's Programme for Rebuilding and Improving Existing Schools (PRIME) from 2007 to 2009. Upgraded works include the school hall, which was expanded to double its capacity with air-conditioning systems installed, as well as a new indoor sports hall.[1]

Dunman Secondary School celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2013.[1]

Principal

Name of principal Years served
Mr Au Keng Chu 1963 - 1968
Mr Tiong Dak Yu 1968–1971
Mr Chiu Hock Seng 1971–1975
Mr Poon Meng Seng 1975–1982
Mrs Janette Ho 1982–1985
Mr Johnny Lau Hwa Pak 1985–1989
Mrs Tay Sor Har 1989–1993
Mr Tng Kim Guan 1993–1996
Mrs Chua Siew Eng 1996–1997
Mr Gan Chin Huat 1997–1999
Mrs Mah Kwee Hua 1999–2001
Mrs Edelweis Neo 2001–2009
Ms Beatrice Chong 2010–2013

Identity and culture

The former school crest of Dunman Secondary School

School motto

The school motto "Pengetahuan Suloh Hidup" is written in Malay, which means "Knowledge: The torch of life". The school motto is also re-interpreted as Dare to achieve your dreams,[2] in line with Dunman's DARE (Dunman All Round Excellence) framework.[3]

School crest

The former Dunman Secondary school crest was designed in 1963, consisting of a white lion with an open book bearing the school motto. The new school logo design is simplified with a lion and a torch.

School song

The school song, composed by Mr John de Souza, was first sung in 1968. It expresses the purpose and mission of the school.

Campus

The Tam Ean Kiam Hall, the main hall of Dunman Secondary School, is a multi-purpose hall used for sports activities, assemblies as well as major examinations.[4]

All secondary four and graduating classes study in air-conditioned classrooms while the rest of the students have fan-equipped classrooms. Students are allowed to study anywhere in the school, which has more than 20 benches in the campus. The library is open for students to print, photocopy and use the computers/ iPads.

There are a total of fifteen computer, science and animation labs in the school.

Academic Information

As a government secondary school, Dunman Secondary School offers three academic streams, namely the four-year Express course, as well as the Normal Course, comprising Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) academic tracks.

O Level Express Course

The Express Course is a nationwide four-year programme that leads up to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level examination.[5]

Academic subjects

The examinable academic subjects for Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level offered by Dunman Secondary School for upper secondary level (via. streaming in secondary 2 level), as of 2017, are listed below.[6]

Notes:

  1. Subjects indicated with ' * ' are mandatory subjects.
  2. All students in Singapore are required to undertake a Mother Tongue Language as an examinable subject, as indicated by ' ^ '.
  3. "SPA" in Pure Science subjects refers to the incorporation of School-based Science Practical Assessment, which 20% of the subject result in the national examination are determined by school-based practical examinations, supervised by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board. The SPA Assessment has been replaced by one Practical Assessment in the 2018 O Levels.[7]
Sciences Language & Hunanities Arts & Aesthetics
  • Additional Mathematics*
  • Mathematics*
  • Physics (SPA)
  • Chemistry (SPA)*
  • Biology (SPA)
  • Science (Combined)
  • English Language*
  • English Literature
  • Mother Tongue Language* ^
  • Higher Mother Tongue Language
  • Chinese Literature
  • Geography
  • History
  • Combined Humanities (Social Studies & another Humanities subject at elective level)*
  • Art
  • Design & Technology
  • Food & Nutrition
  • Music

Normal Course

The Normal Course is a nationwide 4-year programme leading to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level examination, which runs either the Normal (Academic) curriculum or Normal (Technical) curriculum, abbreviated as N(A) and N(T) respectively.[8]

Normal (Academic) Course

In the Normal (Academic) course, students offer 5–8 subjects in the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level examination.Compulsory subjects include:[9]

  • English Language
  • Mother Tongue Language
  • Mathematics
  • Combined Humanities

A 5th year leading to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level examination is available to N(A) students who perform well in their Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level examination. Students can move from one course to another based on their performance and the assessment of the school principal and teachers.[8]

Normal (Technical) Course

The Normal (Technical) course prepares students for a technical-vocational education at the Institute of Technical Education.[9] Students will offer 5–7 subjects in the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level examination.[9] The curriculum is tailored towards strengthening students’ proficiency in English and Mathematics.[9] Students take English Language, Mathematics, Basic Mother Tongue and Computer Applications as compulsory subjects.[9]

In the news

In 2005, after the Boxing Day tsunami, an ex-student, Mohd Faiz Bin Mohd Rashid, a former student of Dunman Secondary, collaborated with the school to put up a concert to raise funds to aid the victims. Arrangements were made for celebrities and students to perform at the event. The concert raised S$35,000.

Notable alumni

  • Amrin Amin: Member of Parliament
  • Theresa Goh: Paralympian
  • Yusrina Ya'akob: First female Malay Singaporean to climb Mount Everest

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "school-history". dunmansec.moe.edu.sg. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  2. ↑ Lim, Bee Lang (1 November 2008). "ST Forum: What's in a school badge? There's plenty". The Straits Times.
  3. ↑ "Dunman School Badge". Singapore: Dunman Secondary School. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
  4. ↑ "facilities". dunmansec.moe.edu.sg. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  5. ↑ "Express Course Curriculum". moe.gov.sg. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  6. ↑ "School Information Service". Ministry of Education, Singapore. Ministry of Education, Singapore. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  7. ↑ "GCE O-Level Syllabuses Examined in 2018". Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB). Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Secondary School Courses". moe.gov.sg. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Normal Course Curriculum". moe.gov.sg. Retrieved 14 September 2017.

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