Ministry of Education of the Republic of Singapore

07/19/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/19/2024 01:34

Racial Harmony Day 2024 Singapore: Our Multicultural Mosaic

1.Racial Harmony Day (RHD) is commemorated annually by schools to enable students to gain a deeper appreciation of racial harmony and social cohesion. Continuing with the theme of 'Singapore: Our Multicultural Mosaic', the emphasis is on the rich diversity that makes up our multicultural society, which contributes to our shared sense of harmony and cohesion. This year, schools will observe RHD on Friday, 19 July.

2.Minister for Education, Mr Chan Chun Sing, Second Minister for Education, Dr Maliki Osman, Minister of State for Education and Manpower, Ms Gan Siow Huang, and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Finance, Mr Shawn Huang joined students at the following schools to commemorate RHD:

St Andrew's Junior College

Minister joined JC1 students in a Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) lesson where students led their peers to reflect on the significance of Racial Harmony Day in Singapore. Using questions and resources prepared by their peers, students discussed how the commemoration of racial harmony was an important effort to deepen students' appreciation of other cultures. They also considered the realities of society, and shared their hopes for racial harmony in the next 50 years.

Minister also spoke with students on how youth can play their part in promoting social cohesion.

Endeavour Primary School

Second Minister joined students in class-based discussions on stereotypes and how students can respond to promote a greater understanding of one's culture.

Second Minister also engaged students at the "Kampong Games" booths featuring traditional games such as pick-up-sticks, five stones and chapteh. These booths allowed students to experience playing traditional games that bond people across different races and cultures.

Jurongville Secondary School

Minister of State joined an upper secondary lesson to discuss various perspectives on the role of youth in contributing to multiculturalism in Singapore, and how they can play their part to make Singapore more inclusive and united.

She also observed a lower secondary lesson where students reflected on how they could be more proactive to learn about different cultures and communities in Singapore. Students from Jurongville Secondary introduced Minister of State to their RHD booth titled "Home Sweet Home" which depicted a home in Singapore exhibiting common items from the Chinese, Malay and Indian cultures, such as the Four Treasures of the Study, lampu lap lip and the padi, a rice grain measuring cup.

Junyuan Primary School

Senior Parliamentary Secretary joined a class where students discussed ways to build positive and harmonious relationships with different communities through everyday interactions.

He also joined Primary 1 and 6 students at activity stations, which allowed students to participate in traditional games and learn community and folk songs, as well as greetings and customs of the different communities in Singapore.