Centralised institutes (Singapore)

These are the former centralised institutions in Singapore. Except for the Millennia Institute, all the other institutes are permanently closed down.

Jurong Institute

Jurong Institute (Abbreviation: JI; Chinese: 裕廊高级中学) was one of 4 original Centralised Institutes (CI) in Singapore, and one of the two CIs to have been merged to establish the nation's current only CI, Millennia Institute.

History

Jurong Institute was formed in 1989 as Singapore's second centralised institute.

It originally functioned at Jurong West Street 91, till 18 November 1994, when it held a ceremony named 'The Big Move' and relocated to 2 Toh Tuck Terrace. On that day of relocation, the school flag was lowered for the last time at Jurong West and the student councillors set off on a symbolic relay run, carrying a torch to signify that the JI spirit would continue to burn at the new premises. Lion dancers, awaiting staff and students, welcomed the school to its new site and ushered them into their new campus at Toh Tuck.

The original Jurong West facility was later retrofitted by the ministry and used by Juying Secondary School since 12 June 1995, before being demolished as part of the Secondary School's PRIME upgrading in 2011.

In 2004, Jurong Institute merged with Outram Institute and was renamed 'Millennia Institute'. Both former institutes continued to function at their own sites, in Toh Tuck and Bartley respectively, before relocating to a single new site at Jurong East in 2007.

Outram Institute

Outram Institute (Abbreviation: OI; Chinese: 欧南高级中学) was one of 4 original Centralised Institutes (CI) in Singapore, and one of the two CIs to have been merged to establish the nation's current only CI, Millennia Institute. Outram Institute is the first Centralised pre-university Centre in Singapore, founded by Ministry of Education, Singapore. Students in Outram Institute take the A Levels in three years, unlike any other Pre-university course students in a Junior College (JC).

In the 1980s, 3-year pre-university courses were conducted in several secondary schools. In 1987 the Ministry of Education set up the first Institute, Outram Institute (OI) to offer 3-year pre-university courses on a centralised basis. Outram Institute prepare students for the GCE `A' Level Examinations. Initially, it concentrated on commerce subjects and had only the Commerce stream. The Arts stream was later being introduced to the school. Outram Institute functions on a full-day basis and teaching modes has included lectures and classroom instruction. Admission to the Institute is based on the aggregate point of First Language and four relevant subjects (L1R4). Mrs Lim Han Soon, Principal of Outram Secondary School, was being appointed as the first principal to head Outram Institute.

The Institute was being temporarily accommodated in premises at Bartley Road which was vacated by Chung Hwa High School when the school moved to new premises in December 1987. The Bartley Road premises was then renovated to provide the necessary facilities and a conducive environment for students. Outram Institute remained in the Bartley Road site until it was merged with Jurong Institute, another centralised institute in the year 2004, forming the new Millennia Institute, the only 3 year pre-university centre in Singapore today.

Seletar Institute

Seletar Institute (Abbreviation: SI; Chinese: 立德高级中学) was one of the four original centralised institutes (CI) in Singapore and one of the pre-university centres in Singapore that offers a three-year curriculum leading to the Singapore Cambridge (UCLES) General Certificate of Education Advanced Level examination.

History

SI was established as Singapore's third centralised institute in 1988 and began operations with 17 members of staff and 186 students in January 1989, at the then-vacant Upper Thomson Secondary School ex-campus at 14.5 km Upper Thomson Road, opposite Springleaf estate. During the first 3 months of the pioneer batch in 1989, students spent their ECA (Extra Curricular Activities) to cut the tall wild grasses and paint the buildings. The first lecture theatre had an improvised white cloth as the projector screen - hung using strings from the four corners. There were no airconditioning and whenever the forthnightly fumigation from the Ministry of Environment came along, the students had to cover their mouth/nose with one hand and take lecture notes with the other. This was truly a "Kampung school" but one that very much retained the "Kampung spirit" which lacks in most other modern institutions of learning.

In 1990, the campus was expanded, with a new two storey block at the back of the original facility, consisting of 10 class rooms at Level 1 and 2 Lecture Theatres at Level 2. The pioneer batch students (10 classes or what was known as "Civics Tutorial Group") moved to the new block whilst the two junior batches remained at the old block. Its library, third LT and four additional classrooms was built in 1991, its fourth LT, gymnasium, weights room, fitness stations, art studio and students’ locker room in 1992 and its conference room, printing room, counselling room, resource rooms and staff lounges in 1993. Air-conditioners were installed extensively throughout campus. It underwent repainting, renovations and upgrades in 1994, with a new volleyball court and walkway to Block B from the canteen and Internet introduced in 1995. In1996, a student’s computer corner was created to facilitate students without internet access or computer. The institute received extensive funding from the Ministry of Education (MOE), which allowed the annual increment of facilities and refurbishing of most of the buildings, until when in 16 August 1995, when MOE announced that Seletar Institute will not be expecting any intake of prospective ‘A’ level students in the coming year of 1996.

Seletar Institute was a relatively advanced and sufficiently modernised pre-university centre compared to other JCs and CIs. However, all these went to waste as the institute was closed down and the campus abandoned, since 1998.

Townsville Institute

Townsville Institute (Abbreviation: TI; Chinese: 城景高级中学) was one of the four original centralised institutes (CI) in Singapore and one of the pre-university centres in Singapore that offers a three-year curriculum leading to the Singapore Cambridge (UCLES) General Certificate of Education Advanced Level examination.

The centralised institute was located at Margaret Drive in Queenstown. Due to declining number of students, the institute was forced to close. The building now houses the NIE Townsville campus.