Neighbourhood school

Neighbourhood school is a term used in Singapore to denote schools that are located within heartland towns and stereotypically of lower calibre, compared to more "brand-name" schools like Raffles, Hwa Chong and Victoria. The label is often used in a pejorative sense.

Description

Neighbourhood schools form the bulk of schools located in heartland districts like Hougang and Jurong. They typically carry the name of the town they are located in (for example, Pasir Ris Secondary School, located in Pasir Ris); though this is not always a catch-all identifier - Ang Mo Kio Secondary School, though named after the precinct it is located in, is commonly seen as a upper-tier school.

Criticism

The label is widely criticized for promoting elitist tendencies in the education system. In response, Minister for Education Heng Swee Keat has rolled out a new policy to effect a paradigm shift - 'Every School is a Good School'. This policy aims to recognise all schools based on their merits, and not their class.