National Education

National Education (NE) is a significant aspect of Character and Citizenship Education (CCE), comprises a wide range of school efforts that help students experience and explore their national identity as Singaporeans, understand the realities and challenges unique to our nation and foster a sense of hope and belonging to Singapore. A strong sense of belonging, reality and hope motivates our students to be active citizens. While they seek to achieve their personal life goals, they also see themselves as playing a contributory role in their families, school, and immediate communities.

NE Commemorative Events

Total Defence Day (TDD)

Term 1 15 February

The theme for 2023 is “Together We Keep Singapore Strong”.

15 February marks the fall of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942. In commemorating TDD, our students reflect on the importance of Total Defence as Singapore’s best all-round response to threats and challenges that confront Singapore (e.g. terrorism, pandemics, cyber-attacks, influence campaigns or economic crises). Students also reflect on the continuing relevance of the six pillars of Total Defence - Military Defence, Civil Defence, Economic Defence, Social Defence, Digital Defence and Psychological Defence - as well as the core message of every Singaporean standing together, each playing our part to protect Singapore and our shared way of life.

TDD is a good opportunity for students in primary school to know the aspects of Total Defence and how they can play a part in each aspect.

2023 TDD Activities

International Friendship Day (IFD)

Term 2 3rd Friday

The theme for 2022 to 2024 is “Singapore in Asia”.

It is a day dedicated to the understanding of Singapore’s relations with neighbouring countries and beyond. IFD is a good opportunity for students in primary school to:

• be acquainted with the diverse and colourful culture and traditions of the region and the lives of their peers in other ASEAN Member-States,

• nurture in our students the spirit of friendship and collaboration among different peoples in ASEAN and beyond and

• keep an open mindset and express an appreciation of the contributions of foreigners living, working and studying in Singapore.

2023 IFD Activities

Racial Harmony Day

Term 3 21 July

The theme for 2022 to 2024 is Singapore: Our Multicultural Mosaic.

###### 21 July marks the anniversary of the 1964 race riots. On this day, students reflect on and celebrate Singapore as a harmonious society built on a rich diversity of cultures and the collaborative effort of all to promote social cohesion. RHD is a good opportunity for students in primary school to:

• ·make friends with people of other races and religions,    

•  learn that in Singapore, people are treated equally regardless of their race and religion, and

• appreciate the different cultures that make up Singapore.

2022 RHD - Encouraging students to appreciate and respect other races through activities.

National Day Commemoration in School

Term 3 Last school day before 9 August

The theme for 2023 is “Onward As One”.

It calls upon Singaporeans to look forward confidently and move onward together in building our shared future as one united people.

National Day marks our separation from Malaysia in 1965, and our emergence as an independent country in a community of nations.

The school-based commemoration brings to students a sense of the historical importance and solemnity of National Day. There will be an observance ceremony and a celebrations segment that reflects the National Day theme.

2022 National Day Commemoration in School

National Education (NE) and Social Studies Programmes

1. Primary 5 NE Show

Our Primary 5 students get to attend the NE Show, which is a preview of the National Day Parade, to appreciate the significance of National Day.

2022 NE Show

2. NE Integration Programme for IS and SPR

This programme provides opportunities for our international students (IS)  and Singapore Permanent Resident students (SPR) to deepen their understanding about the rich and diverse cultures of Singapore and build an enduring emotional connection with Singapore.

Deepening understanding of the diverse cultures in Singapore through hands-on activities e.g. Chinese paper cutting, painting of Indian oil lamp and creating Malay Wayang Kulit puppet

3. Learning at Xishan Heritage Gallery and Heritage Cove

Xishan Primary unveiled its extended Heritage Gallery (The Heritage Cove) on Thursday, 28 July 2022. The launch reception was officiated by our SAC Chairperson, Mrs Agnes Sim and members of the SAC.

The original Heritage Gallery was constructed in 2017 to commemorate the school’s 80th anniversary. It provides an overview of the school history, Singapore’s development over the years and the neighbourhood around the school. The heritage gallery was extended and refurbished to showcase the school’s and nation’s transformation over the years. The extension of the gallery allows us to convert the external area into a space for teaching and learning Social Studies and National Education.

Students get to learn about the national symbols by completing the pencil rubbing activities and matching the images to the information about these symbols on the floor visuals. The large Singapore map allows students to practise their map reading skills as they identify the location of the significant places they have read about during Social Studies lessons and visited during their FbL. The newly designed feature wall “Our Journey, Our Hopes” presents the hopes and wishes that Xishanites have penned for their school and nation as well as showcase our journey and our hopes as a school and a nation.

4. Social Studies Field-based Learning (FbL)

Social Studies FbL experiences are planned for Xishanites as listed in the table below. Not only do they provide the opportunity for students to know more about Singapore, they engage them in inquiry-based learning, motivate and sustain their interest in the subject matter as students learn to explore the surroundings, construct new knowledge and make connections to the topic being studied.

P4 to P6 cohort learning journeys are part of the key Student Development Experiences under the CCE Curriculum.