Raffles Institution

Raffles Institution 莱佛士书院 Institusi Raffles இராஃபிள்ஸ் கல்வி நிலையம்
Address
1 Raffles Institution Lane,
Singapore 575954
Singapore
Information
Type	Independent
Established	5 June 1823
Website	www.ri.edu.sg

Raffles Institution (RI) is an independent educational institution in Singapore. Founded in 1823, it is the oldest school in the country. It provides secondary education for boys only from Year 1 to Year 4, and pre-university education for both boys and girls in Year 5 and Year 6.

Controversy

Students disrespecting Singapore currency

On 10 June 2020, 3 RI students were involved in throwing money off the school building, and flushing a SGD $50 note down the toilet in school. The actions were filmed by the students involved and published on Instagram. The students' actions resulted in public criticism for disrespecting Singapore currency.

RI official claimed that they had counselled the students and will be taking strict disciplinary action against the involved students. Their parents have also been informed about the incident according to the school.

Blackface photo controversy

In June 2020, a group photo taken in 2016 showing 10 RI students in blackface went viral online in the aftermath of the George Floyd incident in the United States. In the photo, a group of 10 RI students with blackface intentionally made and holding up props like whitening lotion, deodorant, fake cash and a poster of the South Asian Hollywood movie, Slumdog Millionaire. The photo attracts public criticism for its offensiveness and racism. The photo was originally posted on an Instagram account in April 2016.

The original poster who posted the photo on Instagram later identified himself as one of the 10 RI students in the photo and apologized. The students reportedly put on blackface to celebrate the birthday of their friend, who is presumably of South Asian descent.

RI responded to the incident and claimed that teachers would have intervened and counselled the students if they had known about their plans. The school also revealed that the students involved have contacted the school to apologise for their actions.

Controversial dressing by students on Racial Harmony Day

On 24 July 2024, a photo of a RI student dressed as a dark-skinned delivery rider on Racial Harmony Day was circulated online. The student wears a mask with the face of a dark-skinned man, along with long-sleeved foodpanda uniform. Some individual online pointed out that the face on the mask was actually a basketball player's face.

Principal of RI, Aaron Loh, told the news media that the student did so as part of current trends around social media memes involving a basketballer, and further claimed that he had no intention to make fun of any group or community. The school reportedly has since counselled and taken disciplinary actions against the students involved.