School merger sparks online war of words

When two become one, the union can be welcomed - or it can spark a war of words.

When news broke out late last month that Chai Chee and Bedok Town secondary schools will merge at the start of the 2011 school year, an online 'war' did break out.

Students from both schools penned in their personal blogs remarks like 'shocking news'. Some were worried about studying with 'unknown students'.

One Chai Chee student who posted her views on her blog, which was eventually picked up by Stomp - The Straits Times' online portal - and several discussion forums, drew sharp responses.

She had said her schoolmates would 'suffer' after the merger.

One Bedok Town student told her to 'brush up' on her English 'before even criticising my school' while another student said she should go to another school if she was that unhappy.

In their responses to The Sunday Times, both schools - which are coed - said such initial reactions were not unexpected, given the students' loyalty to their schools.

They did not offer reasons for the merger and declined to reveal enrolment figures.

But a Ministry of Education (MOE) spokesman said a decision to merge schools is based on factors like proximity to each other and the combined enrolment.

She added that school mergers optimise resources and enable more students to have access to the latest school facilities.

Since 2007, eight new schools have resulted from mergers involving 16 primary and secondary schools.

Come 2011, Telok Kurau and Broadrick secondary schools will also be merging, said the MOE.

Mr Ang Hwee Khoon, principal of Chai Chee Secondary, said the school has counselled students involved in the blogs.

The students were reminded blogging should be done 'in a responsible manner, showing respect for other users of the Internet'.

A spokesman for Bedok Town Secondary said both schools are working closely together so the merger will be smooth and beneficial to all the students and teachers.

Ideas and suggestions from students and staff on how to bring about a seamless merger have been sought too.

The MOE said matters like the school uniform for the merged school will be decided later.

Meanwhile, despite the online brouhaha, some students from both schools said they were looking forward to the merger.

Chai Chee Secondary 1 student Subhan Elahi, 14, said he was excited because he will get to make more friends.

Subhan, who is from Pakistan, said there are now only two classes in his level.

Secondary 2 student Jessica Ho, 14, also from Chai Chee Secondary, was keen about studying in a new environment.

She said: 'Anyway, after Secondary 4, we will have to move to a new school, so it's good to get used to such new experiences now.'