TOTAL DEFENCE DAY

Total Defence Day post-COVID was definitely one to remember. 

Each level went on a different learning journey to experience a different aspect of Total Defence.

Lower Secondary | Journey to the Singapore Discovery Centre

The Lower Secondary cohort went on a learning journey to the Singapore Discovery Centre for a fun-filled morning of enriching activities. Upon arrival at the centre, the students were grouped and briefed on the agenda for the morning. The student “recruits” were tasked to visit the various interactive stations to collect points. The 6 areas visited were the 6 main areas which reflected the 6 pillars of defence. These included the Bridge of Harmony (Social Defence), Shoot-A-Jeopardy (Military Defence) and Financial Wise. (Economic Defence) As the students navigated through these stations, they were exposed to a wealth of information on the various ways Singapore’s defence can be protected. 

It was an enriching morning for the Lower Secondary students who had an experience of education outside the classroom on Singapore’s journey from past to present and also of how to move forward to a better future with everyone playing a significant role.

Our trip to the Singapore Discovery Centre was informative and enjoyable. The trip made me realise more about our country’s history and what we have been through. I also learnt the importance of how working together can ensure our country is a safe place. – Hashini, Sec 2F

I enjoyed going to the Singapore Discovery Centre as it was fun and enjoyable. We got to explore the various exhibits as a group and together we had to complete a task. I bonded with my group members and at the same time found out more about total defence in Singapore. It was an enriching experience for me and I would like to have more learning journeys like this in future. – Shuib, Sec 2B

Secondary 3 | Singapore Prison Service Heritage Gallery @ Changi

Total Defence Day also saw the Secondary 3 cohort head to the Singapore Changi Prison. Students were greeted by the Officer Commanding and Warden of the Prison, followed by watching a SPS Heritage Gallery video. They then had the rare opportunity of a docent-guided tour through the history of Singapore prisons, dating back to the 1800s, to today's state of the art facilities. The tour concluded with a picture taken at the Changi Wall. Students were able to see how the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) achieved this by working closely with other agencies and garnering public support through the Yellow Ribbon Project.

When I first heard that I was going to Changi prison, I didn't know what to expect. When the day came, I was excited to hear what we were going to learn. The officers taught us a lot of interesting things about what the prison was like from the 1800s to now. The thing that interested me the most was the progression that they had made over the years and how we are so lucky to have Singapore as one of the safest countries in the world. – Uzair, Sec 3D

Secondary 4 | Red Cross Society & Internal Security

Red Cross Society

The visit to the Red Cross Society was an eye opener for the students. Said Jaedon Yuen, Sec 5A “I saw some interesting things like the machines used to extract blood, people donating blood and bags filled with blood.”  They also visited consultation rooms where certified doctors were on site to determine the suitability of the candidates. 

Through this visit, many realized what they had taken for granted. “I realized that donating blood is good and will help benefit other people who need it and even if you want to donate, it doesn’t mean that you’re suitable for it because of the process before actually donating your blood.” said Md Ismail Eskandar, Sec 5A. For others, the realization of the benefits in terms of saving lives is crucial. Jaedon Yuen said, “I have learned that we can help save lives by donating blood, and that almost anyone who is healthy can donate.”

Internal Security Department (ISD)

The visit to the Internal Security for the students was riddled with information about spies. Muhammad Aqil Farkhan Bin Abdul Razak of Sec 4E said, “Throughout my learning journey at ISD, I learnt how the people in the ISD work and why certain information is to be kept secret. I also learnt how they are able to find the people who cause security threats and learnt in detail about such threats in Singapore. Moreover, the people there were able to show us in detail such events that had occurred in Singapore.” For Sofea Imaan of Sec 4E, “It was learning about spies, specifically Swallows and Ravens, that was interesting. It was informative as we learnt that spies use seduction to lure their targets.”

For most students, the highlight was a new and greater understanding of the dangers to Singapore. They learnt that we should be more wary of our surroundings as we will never know if anything or anyone could be a possible threat. Without the Internal Security Department, Singapore would probably be in constant danger as they ensure the safety of Singapore. For Rayan Malique of Sec 4E, it was learning about terrorism that stood out for him. “We were informed about groups like Al-Qaeda, ISIS and Jamiyah Islamiyah. I learnt about how many terrorist attacks were planned in Singapore but never came to fruition.” Most importantly, this visit taught them the importance of remaining vigilant so that everyone is safe.