Raffles Institution

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Originally known as the Singapore Institution, Raffles Institution was founded by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1823, making it the oldest school in Singapore. 

In 1823, Raffles selected a sea-front stretch along Victoria Street for the school. He also secured a grant from the East India Company, drafted the curriculum and set up the structure for the board of trustees. His goal to educate the native elite in the country however was not realised until 11 years later. The early classes were offered in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. The school building was finally completed in 1838 under the leadership of Alexander Guthrie, a prominent merchant. In 1844, the enrolment had grown to 195 boys and a separate Raffles Girls' School was started. Its early years were marked by the leadership of its long-serving principal R. W. Hullet who headed the school from 1870 - 1906. Raffles Institution passed from a fee-paying school into a government school in 1906 when the colonial government took possession of it. Another significant event in the history of the institution was the move of its premises from Bras Basah to Grange Road in 1972, under the principalship of Philip Liau. In 1990, the institution made another relocation to Braddell.

The school's motto: Auspicium Melioris Aevi - "the hope for a better age" - has inspired many local leaders who passed through its hallowed halls, including Singapore's Prime Ministers, Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong.



Author
Koh Lay Tin



References 
Makepeace, W., Brooke, G. E., & Braddell, R. St. J. (Eds.). (1991). One hundred years of Singapore. Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 ONE) 

Mulliner, K. (1991). Historical dictionary of Singapore. Metuchen, N. J.: Scarecrow Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57003 MUL) 

One man's vision: Raffles Institution in focus. (1992). Singapore: E. Wijeysingha.
(Call no.: RSING 373.5957 ONE)

Samuel, D. S. (1991). Singapore's heritage: Through places of historical interest. Singapore: Elixir Consultancy Service.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SAM)

Singapore chronicles: A special commemorative history of Singapore (p. 198). (1995). Hong Kong: Illustrated Magazine.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SIN) 

Wijeysingha, E. (1963). A history of Raffles Institution, 1823-1963. Singapore: University Education Press.
(Call no.: RSING 373.5951 WIJ)

Wijeysingha, E. (1989). The eagle breeds a gryphon: The story of the Raffles Institution 1823-1985. Singapore: Pioneer Book Centre. 
(Call no.: RSING 373.5957 WIJ)

Raffles Institution. (2003). Raffles Institution. Retrieved October 6, 2003, from www.ri.sch.edu.sg/


Further Readings
Neilson, J. B. (1929). A history of Raffles Institution. Singapore: Raffles Institution.
(Call no.: RSING 373.5957 NEI) 

Ng, S. C. (1991). She is from the East. Singapore: Raffles Institution.
(Call no.: RSING S895.1 NG)

The Rafflesian: Centenary edition 1886-1986. (1987). Singapore: Raffles Institution.
(Call no.: R 373..5957 RAF)

The Rafflesian: Magazine of Raffles Institution. (1924). Singapore: Raffles Institution.
(Call no.: RSING 373.5957 R) 

Subject
Politics and Government>>Education
Architecture and Landscape>>Building Types>>Educational Buildings
Schools--Singapore
Single-sex schools--Singapore
Education>>Secondary education
Arts>>Architecture>>Educational buildings