Bedok South Secondary School

Bedok South Secondary School (BDS) is a government, co-educational 'N'/'O'-level preparatory secondary school of the Ministry of Education of Singapore and serves secondary one through five. The school is situated in the Bedok neighbourhood, just a few hundred metres from Tanah Merah MRT Station.^[1]

The school is one of the very few schools selected to construct an indoor sports hall and also one of eight schools to be selected for the 'Teach Less, Learn More' programmes.

History

Summary

Founded in 1980, Bedok South Secondary School shared its premises with Temasek Secondary School and Hong San Primary School. BDS was located in Bedok housing estate – the eastern part of Singapore before being relocated to the current premises at 1 Jalan Langgar Bedok. The new campus was officially opened on 21 February 2004 by Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, Speaker of Parliament and MP for East Coast GRC (Siglap).

The school is one of the first 20 schools in Singapore to have an indoor sports hall constructed in its premises. In 2009, the sports hall was fully constructed.

Full school time line

1982–1996

Bedok South Secondary School was established in the Year 1980 and declared open on 29 April 1982 by Dr Lee Chiaw Meng, MP for Tanah Merah. Its first building was strategically located along New Upper Changi Road. From these premises, BDS endeavoured to cater to the educational needs of the Bedok Town Community in the fast-growing economy which was industrialising and propelling the nation towards prosperity.

A comprehensive yet balanced educational programme was adopted not only to develop the needs of the students but also to mould them into useful and productive members of society.

Involvement in Extra Curricular Activities (ECA) and exposure to the outside world were also given equal emphasis. A diverse range of programmes was introduced to enthuse, challenge and spur students to be adventurous, daring and determined.

1997–2001

Rapid technological advancement and globalisation prompted the education system to focus on processes that would facilitate the acquisition of Information Technology (IT) skills. To hone creativity and critical thinking, the Thinking School. Learning Nation (TSLN) policy was introduced and adopted by all schools.

In line with this impetus, BDS introduced an extensive IT and Thinking skills programme to prepare students for a workplace that had become increasingly computerised.

In addition, the academic programme was refined to consolidate the vision of maximising students' potential and producing independent learners capable of making the transition into a sophisticated economy. Through pastoral care, steps were taken to inculcate in students a sense of individual responsibility, to promote care and concern for their peers and the handicapped; and also to instil in them a healthy respect for the environment. 'Forge Ahead' was the driving force behind these moves, characterising the resilience pervading school life at BDS.

2002 and beyond

In order to keep pace with global changes and to cater to the nation's goal of creating a knowledge based economy, schools are now placing greater emphasis on holistic education and entrepreneurship. Integration, which is imperative for progress, has been revitalised through the National Education(NE) programme. In response to these changes and challenges, BDS has embarked on a learning journey that embodies innovation, adaptability and racial harmony.

The year 2003 marked the school's move into its new premises along Jalan Langgar Bedok – another milestone in the history of the school. The school prides itself on having modern amenities such as gymnasium, a sports field, an Art room, a Humanities room and a well-equipped media resource library. State-of-the-art computer facilities are also fully made available to the students.

The new premises provide and ideal platform for the school to move towards organisational excellence. Improved facilities coupled with innovative ideas create a nurturing environment for students to grow and excel in. Attention to character development remains pivotal and the core values enshrined in I CARE have been carefully crafted to inculcate the right attitude essential to moulding successful and caring students.

On 17 December 2007, Mr Krishnan Aravinthan became the new principal of Bedok South Secondary School until his new posting to start up Spectra Secondary School in 2012. Ms Pauline Fun took over the reins of the school from 17 December 2012.

Staff and student population

The school currently has a staff strength of 87 teachers and 1474 students as of 2012.

References

External links

• Official website

Coordinates: 1°19′32″N 103°57′02″E / 1.325615°N 103.9505°E / 1.325615; 103.9505