School mergers: How are decisions made?

I can understand the need for school mergers because of falling enrolment (28 schools set for merger amid fall in birth rates, demand; April 21).

What befuddles me is that, between choosing two schools to merge, for example Tampines Junior College and Meridian JC, the Ministry of Education preferred to shut down Tampines JC and merge it with Meridian JC.

I am sure these are not easy decisions to make, but as a Tampines JC alumnus, I am looking at the history and number of students from my alma mater, compared with Meridian JC. Which institution has a longer history?

Tampines JC was officially opened in 1988, whereas Meridian JC opened in 2003. Which JC, if its doors are shut, would affect more memories and the like?

Call me sentimental, but how do we move forward when values such as tradition, a sense of belonging and pride, fighting spirit and fighting for one’s alma mater come into play?

What message are we sending to our children — that new is better, that this is life, you did your best, so please move on?

I hope that the MOE will shed more light on how it decides which schools to keep and which will be merged.

Maybe the flames of Tampines JC alumni can be kept burning bright for years to come.