National Education

Explore how National Education builds students' sense of belonging, hope, and national identity through Singapore's history and key commemorative days.

Last updated 8 May 2026

Launched in 1997, National Education (NE) aims to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and values to understand Singapore’s history, realities and challenges that are unique to the nation while also appreciating the journey to nationhood and having the confidence in the country’s future.

NE seeks to empower students to make sense of what it means to be an engaged citizen of the nation - someone who is socially aware, adept at critical thinking and being informed about local, regional and global issues.

Through NE, students develop a sense of belonging, a sense of reality, and a sense of hope, which culminates in the will to act. These dispositions help shape our students into becoming active citizens who share the resolve to build a Singapore for all with understanding, confidence and optimism.

NE Commemorative Days

The NE Commemorative Days, linked to key moments in Singapore’s history, are an important part of developing our students holistically as we look to build key dispositions - a sense of belonging, a sense of reality, a sense of hope, and the will to act - in growing a stronger Singapore together as a school and a nation.

Total Defence Day (TDD) commemorates the fall of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942. In commemorating TDD, students reflect on the importance of Total Defence as Singapore's response to threats and challenges that confront Singapore. They also reflect on the continuing relevance and importance of the six pillars of Total Defence - Military Defence, Civil Defence, Economic Defence, Social Defence, Digital Defence and Psychological Defence.

Students in blue JSPS Jing Shan Primary uniforms sit at desks in a classroom facing a projector screen.

International Friendship Day (IFD) is dedicated to the understanding of Singapore's relations with neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia and the world beyond. Through IFD, students understand our region and the world, Singapore’s view of the world; and foster people-to-people international friendships.

Students in blue JSPS uniforms stand in a classroom watching a presentation on a projector screen.

Racial Harmony Day (RHD) marks the anniversary of the 1964 race riots. Students reflect on and celebrate Singapore as a harmonious society that is built on a diversity of cultures and the will and effort of everyone to promote social cohesion in the country.

Students in blue JSPS uniforms sit on a hall floor watching a stage presentation about the Chinese drum.

National Day is celebrated to mark the nation’s separation from Malaysia in 1965, and Singapore’s emergence as an independent nation. We commemorate Singapore’s journey to independence, focusing on the historical importance and significance, while also celebrating the progress that the country has made.