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School can wait as it’s World Cup final fever

SINGAPORE — A handful of schools in Singapore have made concessions to allow its students to catch this Sunday’s World Cup final between Germany and Argentina without having to worry about making it on time for early morning classes.

A circular by Serangoon Garden Secondary School addressing parents and guardians of its students sent yesterday. Photo: Twitter user ZUEN

A circular by Serangoon Garden Secondary School addressing parents and guardians of its students sent yesterday. Photo: Twitter user ZUEN

SINGAPORE — A handful of schools in Singapore have made concessions to allow its students to catch this Sunday’s World Cup final between Germany and Argentina without having to worry about making it on time for early morning classes.

The match, which takes place at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium, starts at 3.00am on Monday (Singapore time) and will be shown “live” on several outlets, including MediaCorp’s okto channel.

But Serangoon Garden Secondary School (SGSS) will allow its students to report for school at 11.00am, instead of the usual 7.20am, on Monday, with classes ending at 5pm, instead of 1.30pm to 2.30pm on a usual day.

SGSS could not be reached for comment, but in a circular to its students’ parents and guardians, it said that “in line with the school’s culture of care, we would like to support pupils who are keen” to watch the final, although the school stressed they should ensure their children or ward has a proper breakfast before reporting for classes as lunchtimes will be adjusted to a later timing.

Not surprisingly, the move is turning out to be a popular one.

“Since there is free telecast for the semis and final on okto, many students have been waking up in the wee hours to watch the matches,” said Hayati Juhari, 15, a Secondary Four student. “Our new principal, Mr Stephen Tay, has allowed us to come to school late on the day of the final to ensure that we won’t be tired at school that day.”

At the Singapore Sports School (SSP), about 500 student-athletes from its boarding school at its Woodlands campus have been allowed to skip training on Monday morning to allow them to watch the match via a projector screen at the school’s auditorium.

More than half of the SSP’s students have registered their interest in attending the screening.

SSP principal Tan Teck Hock said the welfare of its students is a priority and that it is a “natural” and a “huge advantage” for the school to screen the match.

“It makes sense for us to screen it (World Cup final), because we are a boarding school, and it is almost like the World Cup at the students’ door step,” he said. “Being a sports school, this is part and parcel of how we educate our students on different sports and get them to enjoy and consume more sports.”

Likewise, the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) will also show the World Cup final at its student hub at its Clementi campus, with about 100 students already registering their attendance. Vouchers will also be given out to those who predict the correct score of the match, said an SIM spokesperson.

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