Let’s not forget spirit of social inclusion at JCs like Tampines

I am a Tampines Junior College (JC) alumna, and like its other former students, I am saddened by the decision to merge the school and possibly redevelop the premises (School mergers: How are decisions made?; April 25).

Arguments have been made for retaining the building to serve as a symbol of our heritage, but beyond that, JCs like Tampines remind us of the need to be socially inclusive.

Tampines JC has remained accessible to students who aspire to a college education despite not scoring straight As for their O-Levels.

Students learn at a pace they are comfortable with, and being in a supportive and less competitive environment may help them to achieve better results in the end.

While they come from a humble educational background, many have gone on to join their peers from more established JCs in institutions of higher learning and to achieve personal excellence in various fields.

The building is meaningful in many different ways, but more importantly, let us not forget the opportunities such schools have offered in a spirit of social inclusion.