Dunman Secondary School
Sekolah Menengah Dunman
德明中学
டன்மன் உயர்நிலைப் பள்ளி
Address
21 Tampines Street 45, Singapore 529093

Tampines

Singapore
Information
TypeAutonomous Secondary, co-educational
MottoPengetahuan Suloh Hidup (Malay)
Knowledge – The Torch of Life
Established1963 (1963)
Sessionsingle session
School code3207
PrincipalToh Thiam Chye
Colour(s) Beige   Brown   White 
NicknameDunmanites
Websitedunmansec.moe.edu.sg

Dunman Secondary School (DMN) is a co-educational government autonomous secondary school in Tampines, Singapore. It was founded in 1963.

School history

Dunman Integrated Secondary School (1960s)

Dunman Secondary School was founded in 1963 as Dunman Integrated Secondary School, with Au Keng Chu as the first principal.[1] The school was named after Thomas Dunman, the first police commissioner of Singapore who served 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. Felix Chew and 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.

Attainment of Autonomous Status

In 2000, in recognition of consistently strong academic results and co-curricular achievements, Dunman Secondary School was announced by the Ministry of Education to be accorded the status of 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 National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan. Dunman Secondary School 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 School 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 two 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 celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013.[1]

List of principals

Name of principal Years served
Au Keng Chu 1963 - 1968
Tiong Dak Yu 1968–1971
Chiu Hock Seng 1971–1975
Poon Meng Seng 1975–1982
Janette Ho 1982–1985
Johnny Lau Hwa Park 1985–1989
Tay Sor Har 1989–1993
Tng Kim Guan 1993–1996
Chua Siew Eng 1996–1997
Gan Chin Huat 1997–2001
Edelweise Neo 2001–2009
Beatrice Chong 2010–2013
Suresh Balakrishnan 2014–2019
Toh Thiam Chye 2020–present

Identity and Culture

The former school crest of Dunman Secondary School

School Motto

The school motto "Pengetahuan Suloh Hidup" is in Malay and it means "Knowledge: The torch of life".

The motto was changed, for a short period, to Dare to achieve your dreams.[2] The change was quickly reverted after an alumni protest in November 2008.[3][4]

School Crest

The original Dunman Secondary School crest was designed in 1963, consisting of a white lion with an open book bearing the school motto. Despite uproar from former students,[5] the school crest was simplified after a review and rebranding exercise in 2007[6] to its current form.

School Song

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

Alumni Organisation

Dunman Secondary School's early day alumni began the organisation of the Dunman Sec Alumni (DSA) and was originally registered as a society.[7] This organisation was later deregistered from Singapore Registry of Societies to begin of a more inclusive restructure, that merges the newer Dunman Youth Alumni (DYA) under one banner, in order to provide stronger support to current and former Dunmanites.[8]

The new Dunman Youth Alumni also started an independent website to facilitate the organisation of alumni events such as the Alumni Reunion Dinner, in place of the former Dunman Sec Alumni defunct website.[9][10]

Campus

The Tan 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.[11]

All secondary four and graduating classes study in air-conditioned classrooms while the rest of the students have fan-equipped classrooms. All students are provided with locker style tables to house their textbooks and school materials. 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 the five-year Normal (Academic) course, and the four-year Normal (Technical) course.

O Level Express Course

The Express Course is a nationwide four-year programme that leads up to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level examination.[12]

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.[13]

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.[14]
Sciences Language & Humanities 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.[15]

Normal (Academic) Course

In the Normal (Academic) course, students offer 5–8 subjects in the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level examination. Compulsory subjects include:[16]

  • 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.[15]

Normal (Technical) Course

The Normal (Technical) course prepares students for a technical-vocational education at the Institute of Technical Education.[16] Students will offer 5–7 subjects in the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level examination.[16] The curriculum is tailored towards strengthening students’ proficiency in English and Mathematics.[16] Students take English Language, Mathematics, Basic Mother Tongue and Computer Applications as compulsory subjects.[16]

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "school-history". dunmansec.moe.edu.sg. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  2. ↑ "Dunman School Badge". Singapore: Dunman Secondary School. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
  3. ↑ Lim, Bee Lang (1 November 2008). "ST Forum: What's in a school badge? There's plenty". The Straits Times.
  4. ↑ Ng, Jane (12 November 2008). "Not just a badge or motto: It's an identity". The Straits Times. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  5. ↑ Ng, Jane (1 November 2008). "Dunman alumni oppose new badge". The Straits Times. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  6. ↑ "School History". dunmansec.moe.edu.sg. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  7. ↑ "About – DUNMAN SECONDARY SCHOOL ALUMNI". Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  8. ↑ "Dunman Youth Alumni (DYA)". dunmansec.moe.edu.sg. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  9. ↑ "DUNMAN SECONDARY SCHOOL ALUMNI – DUNMAN SEC ALUMNI OFFICIAL WEBSITE". Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  10. ↑ "Dunmanites.com | Dunman Alumni". Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "facilities". dunmansec.moe.edu.sg. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  12. ↑ "Express Course Curriculum". moe.gov.sg. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  13. ↑ "School Information Service". Ministry of Education, Singapore. Ministry of Education, Singapore. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  14. ↑ "GCE O-Level Syllabuses Examined in 2018". Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB). Archived from the original on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  15. 1 2 "Secondary School Courses". moe.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 "Normal Course Curriculum". moe.gov.sg. Retrieved 14 September 2017.

1°21′40″N 103°57′21″E / 1.36105°N 103.95593°E / 1.36105; 103.95593

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