Centralised Institutes
Introduction
Centralised Institutes (CI) have much in common with Junior Colleges (JCs). It also works to prepare their students for the GCE 'A' Levels Examination, the difference being that it allows a much slower pace of graduation over three years rather than two. Thus, it mainly caters to students who are capable of entering university but would rather slow down their education process to be able to understand the concepts better or because of their weaker learning capabilities. Currently, there is only one CI in Singapore, Millennia Institute.
Millennia Institute
Millennia Institute (MI) is the only CI available in Singapore. It was a result of a merger during 2004 between the only two existing CIs at the time before the merger, Jurong Institute and Outram Institute.
MI is currently still going through transitional processes of their merger, with a new identity that combines the prestige of the two CIs before it. It is functioning in the two old separate campuses of the previous two CIs, one at Bartley Road (the previous Outram Institute campus) and the other at Toh Tuck Terrace (the previous Jurong Institute campus). They will be moving into their new single campus at Bukit Batok West Avenue 3 in 2007.
Characteristics
MI offers a three-year based education for its students in preparation for the GCE 'A' Level Examinations. It aims and objectives are similar to the JCs, that is, to prepare their students for university education and life beyond. The only difference is that it caters to students with weaker capabilities who require a longer time frame to absorb and finish their pre-university education.
However, one distinct characteristic of MI is that it is the only pre-university institute that offers a commerce course. Two subjects, Principles of Accounting and Management of Business are only available in MI and therefore, students wishing to offer these two subjects would have to come to MI. As such, while some students have a strong learning capability and can complete their pre-university in two years, they would rather enter MI for its business courses.
History
MI has had a relatively short history, being formed only two years ago in 2004 from Outram Institute and Jurong Institute.
Outram Institute was opened in 1987 as one of the four centralised institutes at that to cater to students who would like to take their 'A' Levels education over a longer period of time. It first occupied the premise of the old Chung Hwa Girls’ High School.
Jurong Institute was opened later, in 1989 and originally located at Jurong West Street 91. It moved to 2 Toh Tuck Terrence during 1994 and this move is known to its alumni as "The Big Move". It was a glorious event. The school flag was lowered for the last time in the old campus and student councilors ran a symbolic relay run, passing torches to signify the continuous burning spirit of Jurong Institute, even in the new premise. There were lion dancers at the new premise to welcome the school staff and students to its new site, where they were to continue their legacy.
Admission to MI
Like JCs, admission to MI is based on a secondary student’s GCE 'O' Level Examinations. However, instead of requiring the L1R5 to be of 20 points or less, the MI requires the L1R4 to be of 20 points or less. This makes it easier to enter the CI as compared to JCs as you only need to use the points of 1 language subject and 4 content-based subjects.
