Most unimpressed by names of merged JCs: TODAY’s social media poll
Tampines Junior College (TPJC) is one of the eight Junior Colleges that will be involved in the school mergers. The merger will see TPJC joining Meridian Junior College. PHOTO: Najeer Yusof/TODAY
SINGAPORE — A chorus of disapproval echoed across social media when the names of the merged junior colleges (JCs) were announced on Thursday (Jan 11).
But opinions were divided among the alumni of the institutions involved, with some comforted by how the names of their alma mater were preserved while others felt the authorities took the easy way out.
The names of the four merged JCs will be:
- Anderson Serangoon JC (to be located at Anderson JC);
- Yishun Innova JC (to be located at Yishun JC);
- Tampines Meridian JC (to be located at Meridian JC); and
- Jurong Pioneer JC (to be located at Pioneer JC).
Reactions on social media towards the Ministry of Education’s announcement were mostly negative, with many saying that the authorities had lacked imagination when it came to re-naming the institutions.
Facebook user Jill Yeo commented on TODAY’s Facebook page: “There is no point in combining the names of the colleges and leading to a lot of administrative changes.”
“We just have to acknowledge that the other junior college has gone into history.”
Ms Joanne Lim, another Facebook user said that Singaporeans “should not waste time thinking about how new buildings or schools will be named in Singapore or bother to join any petition or naming contest”.
Another Facebook user by the name CT Chew said sarcastically: “Thank you for making Singapore great again! Best names ever in the history of Singapore!”
In a social media poll conducted by TODAY, some 82 per cent of respondents on Facebook were “not impressed” by the new names. Only 18 per cent of the more than 700 people who voted were agreeable to the name changes.
On Instagram, 77 per cent of respondents – out of some 2,000 people – replied “nay” to the merged names of the junior colleges.
And on Twitter, 76 per cent of more than 800 respondents were “not impressed” by the new names. A further 15 per cent replied that they have “a better idea” when naming the merged junior colleges.
However, alumni members from the various junior colleges were mixed in their reactions, with some feeling positive that the name of their alma mater was preserved.
A statement issued by Innova Junior College’s alumni said that the school welcomes the naming of the new JC. It hopes that this “will finally draw a line under all the uncertainty of the merger process”.
“While we wish it could have been something completely different, allowing both sides a completely fresh start, we appreciate the nod to the heritage of both junior colleges that have played formative roles in so many of our lives,” the statement added.
Ms Sharanya Pillai, 23, a staff writer at a financial magazine, told TODAY: “I think it’s a step in the right direction for them to retain the name ‘Anderson’”.
“In the future when I tell others that I had studied at Anderson Junior College (AJC), they would know which school I’m referring to, even if that’s not the name anymore, she added.”
Serangoon JC alumni Lynn Phua, 27, said it came as an unexpected surprise that the original names of both JCs would be retained.
“It’s a relief that Serangoon’s name is still there, but I think it’s just a mouthful to pronounce,” she said.
There were also others who expressed disappointment at the outcome.
Ms Suhaidah Shahril, 25, an alumni from Meridian Junior College, told TODAY that she felt “let down” by the name of Tampines-Meridian Junior College.
“Where is the effort? They couldn’t even be bothered to merge the name together. Yishunova? Tamidian? See, in one minute I made more of an effort to name the schools,” she said.
The research analyst added: “The ministry could have done better at preserving the spirit and history of the junior colleges.”
Tampines JC alumni Siti Hazirah Mohamad, 29, said the naming exercise was a “classic case of trying to achieve the best of both worlds, but losing the essence in the process”.
The merged JCs might have been better off with new names so that they have a chance to forge a new identity for incoming batches of students, she said.
“Even if it’s Tampines Meridian or Meridian Tampines, it doesn’t carry any meaning, because we all know the school, the teachers and culture (of the merged JC) would have changed.... So why not just scrap it and give a totally new name, (instead of) this hybrid weird child… It’s just lame.” ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY TOH EE MING
