70 Days To Go
Telok Kurau Primary School turns 100 on 18 March 2026. Discover little-known facts from its past, from educating two nations' leaders to its origins as a boys' school.
18 March 2026
Every school carries a story shaped by the people who walked its corridors — the teachers who gave their hearts to education and the students who carried its values into the world. As Telok Kurau Primary School celebrates 100 years, we look back at some lesser-known moments that form part of our enduring legacy.
Did you know?
A school that nurtured leaders of two nations
Telok Kurau English School counts among its former students Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, as well as Tun Hussein Onn, who later became the third Prime Minister of Malaysia. Few schools can claim the distinction of having educated national leaders of two different countries.
The school began as a boys’ school
When Telok Kurau English School first opened, it admitted only boys. Over time, the school evolved to welcome students from a wider community, reflecting the changing educational landscape of Singapore.
Several Telok Kurau schools once existed
The Telok Kurau area was once home to several schools sharing the Telok Kurau name, including Telok Kurau East Primary School, Telok Kurau West School and Telok Kurau Malay Girls’ School. Over the years, these schools merged, and their traditions and communities now live on in present-day Telok Kurau Primary School.
As we look ahead to our centennial celebrations, these glimpses into the past remind us of the rich heritage that continues to shape the identity of Telok Kurau Primary School today.