Surely you’ve noticed the name. Yusof Ishak Secondary School stands as a beacon of education. It is named after Singapore’s first President, Yusof Ishak.
The school’s story began in 1965. It started as Jubilee Integrated Secondary School. There were 984 students in English and Malay streams. On July 29, 1966, it was officially opened as Yusof Ishak Secondary School.
Yusof Ishak Secondary School first stood at Jubilee Road. In December 1998, the school relocated to Bukit Batok. Ong Chit Chung inaugurated the new building on July 29, 2000. He was a Member of Parliament.
In 2018, the school faced a shift. Student numbers in Bukit Batok declined. Demand rose in Punggol. The school announced its relocation to Punggol. New Secondary 1 cohorts were not admitted in 2019 and 2020. This minimized disruption. Yusof Ishak Secondary School welcomed new students to the Punggol campus in 2022.
The school has a rich history of achievement. Yusof Ishak Secondary School topped the value-added ranking in both Express and Normal streams. In 2010, it was evaluated as value-added. The National Cadet Corps Land Girls unit received the Best Unit award.
The school uniform consists of a white shirt. It has the school badge on the left collar. Male lower secondary students wear dark blue shorts. Male upper secondary students wear pants. Female students wear skorts. School ties are worn on formal occasions.
Yusof Ishak Secondary School has core values. These values are Integrity, Self Respect, Purpose, Inquisitiveness, Resilience, and Empathy. The school motto is Ilmu Suluh Hidup. It means “knowledge is the light of life” in Malay.
Every student participates in co-curricular activities. These CCAs fall into categories. There are Uniformed Groups, Visual and Performing Arts, Physical Sports, and Clubs & Societies.
The school offers various CCAs. These include Wushu, Table Tennis, and Badminton. Students can also join Basketball, Fencing, and Softball. Other options are Infocomm/Media, Robotics Club, and STEM Club. ELDDS and Art are also available.
Yusof Ishak Secondary School has received several awards. These include the Character Development Award and the National Education Development Award. It has also received the Sustained Achievement Award for Uniform Group. The school won the Sustained Achievement Award for Green Audit. It also received the Silver for 3Rs Award Competition.
The school facilities include a canteen and a STEM hub. There is also an E-Deck. These facilities support student learning and development.
The Heritage Gallery celebrates Yusof Ishak’s life. He embodied meritocracy, multiracialism, and modernization. The gallery preserves the school’s pioneering spirit. It documents the school’s rich history since 1965. Artefacts, photographs, and memorabilia are featured. They acknowledge the contributions of the first President. The gallery also honors the work of Principals and staff.
Yusof Ishak Secondary School continues to inspire. Its legacy of excellence shines. The school prepares students to be responsible citizens. It embraces the motto “knowledge is the light of life.”