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MOE Heritage Centre

Beginnings of Education (1819 to 1958)

Explore how education in Singapore took shape from 1819 to 1958, driven by missionaries and immigrant communities working independently to provide learning.

Last updated 16 September 2026
Title card reading "Learning in the 19th and Early 20th Century" with colorized photos of two boys and a young woman.

Learning in the 19th and Early 20th Century

Find out how community leaders, missionaries, and the colonial government established Singapore’s early English and vernacular schools, teacher training, and tertiary institutions during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Six people pose in a vintage colorized photo beside text reading The Japanese Occupation, two men in military uniforms holding swords.

The Japanese Occupation

Learn how the Japanese Occupation (1942–1945) transformed education in Singapore, from compulsory Japanese language classes to schools growing food amid wartime shortages.

Title card reading "Restoring Education After World War II" with vintage photos of three young Asian men and a woman in a floral dress.

Restoring Education After World War II

Find out how post-war Singapore rebuilt its education system, from training new teachers to giving all children equal access to schooling.