Gan Eng Seng Secondary School was indeed founded in the 19th century. Here's a detailed breakdown of its history:

• Founded in 1885: The school was established by philanthropist Gan Eng Seng as the Anglo-Chinese Free School in some shophouses located along Telok Ayer Street. His vision was to offer free education in English and Chinese to the children of poor parents in the vicinity.

• Early History: Funded entirely by Gan Eng Seng, the school played a significant role in providing educational opportunities during a time when access to education was limited. It was one of the first schools established by the overseas Chinese community in Singapore and is considered one of the oldest schools in the country.

• Focus on Bilingualism: A pioneer in its time, Gan Eng Seng School placed an emphasis on bilingual education right from the start. This meant students learned both English and Chinese, which was uncommon in that era.

• Relocations: The school has relocated at least seven times throughout its history due to various factors like expansion and infrastructure needs. Its first permanent building was constructed on Telok Ayer Street in 1893, officially opened by the then Governor, Sir Cecil Clementi Smith.

• 20th Century Developments: After Gan Eng Seng's passing, the school transitioned from being a free school to charging fees. Later, it became a government school in 1938 due to financial difficulties. The school also became co-educational in 1987.

• Present Day: Today, Gan Eng Seng Secondary School is a co-educational government school located at Bukit Merah. It is recognized among the top 50 schools in Singapore by the Ministry of Education and continues to be a well-respected institution with a rich history.

Last Known Cutoff Point:

• Express: 8

CCAs:

• Performing Arts: Chinese Orchestra, Choir, Dance, Drama, Guitar Ensemble, Harmonica Ensemble, Indian Dance, Malay Dance
• Sports and Games: Badminton, Basketball, Netball, Softball, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Wushu
• Clubs and Societies: Infocomm Club, Art Club, National Police Cadet Corps, Red Cross, Science and Environment Club, Uniformed Groups (Boys' Brigade, Girls' Brigade, St John Brigade)

Achievements:

• In 2020, the school was awarded the Development Award (Character Development) at the National School Games Awards.
• The school's Chinese Orchestra and Dance CCA have consistently achieved gold awards in the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation.
• The school's Badminton team has been crowned the National School Games B Division champions several times.

Notable Alumni:

• Tan Cheng Bock, former Member of Parliament and presidential candidate
• Wong Kan Seng, former Deputy Prime Minister and Member of Parliament
• Goh Chok Tong, former Prime Minister of Singapore

Location: Gan Eng Seng Secondary School is located at 1 Henderson Road, Singapore 159561.

How to Get There: The nearest MRT station to the school is Tiong Bahru MRT Station (EW17). From there, visitors can take a short bus ride or walk to the school.

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