Tao Nan School – Everything About Them

Tan Boo Liat, great-grandson of entrepreneur and philanthropist Tan Tock Seng, was the driving force behind the foundation of Tao Nan School on November 18, 1906. Hokkien merchants backed the proposal, and the school got built with the cash contributed by the Hokkien community and an annual subsidy from the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan. The institution was named Daonan Xuetang or “Tao Nan Study Hall” by Chen Baochen, one of the final Qing Emperor Puyi’s instructors. The school got temporarily housed in Siam House on North Bridge Road, which belonged to Tan Kim Ching, Tan Tock Seng’s eldest son. The Tao Nan School enrolled 90 students in its first year, and this number has steadily increased since then.

Meta Description:

Tao Nan School, one of Singapore’s oldest elementary schools, was founded on November 18, 1906, by the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan.

Vision:

Learning to Love and Learning to Love

Mission:

To develop inventive students with strong moral character and a passion for study.

Philosophy, culture, and ethos in the classroom:

We are devoted to nurturing and growing each child to be the best that student can be, guided by our purpose to cultivate inventive students of excellent character with a passion for learning. We have dedicated to pushing the frontiers of curricular innovation to give our kids a well-rounded, values-based education. We will continue to provide a holistic Chinese cultural learning experience for Tao Nan School students as a Special Assistance Plan (SAP) school. With the help of our alumni, parents, the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, and the dedication of our students and staff, we were able to achieve our goals.

Program for Social and Emotional Development:

Through our specially-designed programs and individualised assistance, we look after each student’s social and emotional well-being and help them build socio-emotional competencies.

Our social-emotional programs include the following:

• Period of Form-Teacher Guidance (FTGP)
• Time for a few chit-chats
• Communication and Life Skills for Effective Living
• Sexuality Education for P5-P6 (SEd)

Curriculum for Values Education:

We think that values may get learned as well as caught. As a result, our programs are based on our school’s principles and taught in explicit and implicit ways.

Programs:

• Assembly Talks & Level-based Lessons on Values Education
• Mindset for Growth
• The Termly Star Pupil Award

VIA (Values-in-Action) Program:

Through our level, school-based programs – Taonanites are encouraged to demonstrate positive attributes and internalise the ideals. The level-based programs are built in line with the mind, heart, and hands approach and get organised under an increasing framework.

i-Train Program:

The i-train classes get meant to fulfil the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) baseline ICT capabilities for elementary schools. Baseline ICT skills have been incorporated into each department’s curriculum so that students can benefit from an ICT-enabled learning environment. Touch-typing, Microsoft Office Abilities, and photo-editing; are among the skills taught.

PE teaches values via action.

Value education gets incorporated into the physical education curriculum. It aims to intentionally expose students to real-life circumstances to help them develop perspective, manage relationships, and take moral action. Students will internalise the intended ideals of sportsmanship and the school’s fundamental values of respect, responsibility, persistence, love, sincerity, and integrity via structured reflection, guided exploration, and facilitative inquiry.