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SG50 e-book by students launched

SINGAPORE — A commemorative SG50 ebook comprising reflections from the nation’s students was launched today (July 29) by President Dr Tony Tan, along with Education Minister Heng Swee Keat.

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SINGAPORE — A commemorative SG50 ebook comprising reflections from the nation’s students was launched today (July 29) by President Dr Tony Tan, along with Education Minister Heng Swee Keat.

The ebook, titled “SG50 Reflections: Our Hopes and Memories (HOME)”, contains reflections from students from 369 primary and secondary schools, junior colleges and centralised institutes, 20 special education schools as well as the Singapore International School (Hong Kong).

Their stories will span five decades of Singapore history and cover five themes: Culture and Celebrations, Defining Moments, Faces of Singapore, Memorable Spaces, and Progress and Achievements. Stories can be viewed based on theme and decade.

Readers will be able to view videos, drawings, audio recordings and interviews to learn about significant people, places and milestones from the nation’s last 50 years, as well as interesting stories and facts about Singapore.

In the ebook’s foreword, Mr Heng wrote: “I heard that one student managed to convince his grandfather, a retired policeman, to appear on screen to share his memories. This process of capturing such stories has allowed our students to reflect on the values and pioneering spirit underpinning our success over the years.”

The student mentioned was Ethan Koh from Springdale Primary School, 9, who told TODAY that he now wants to become a policeman too after learning about his grandfather’s former job.

“I learned that being a policeman in the 1960s’ was hard. They had no public transport, and had to walk,” he said.

National Junior College (NJC) student Chua Zhi Kang, 18, recounted how working on his school’s story about being the first junior college in Singapore taught him people skills, as well as his school’s history. For example, the colour grey of the NJC uniform symbolises the school’s closeness to the ground, and the uniform was designed by pioneer students.

Si Ling Secondary School visual art teacher, Zafi Zulfakar, said that the students who worked on their story about wet markets learned what they mean to their grandparents, who are from the pioneer generation.

“It’s very nostalgic for them. They would go to Marsiling Market all the time, and the students realise that they need to preserve this experience and the memories,” the 39-year-old added.

The ebook is available free to the public in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Readers can download it by searching “SG50 HOME”, or view the web version at www.SG50HOME.sg.

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