The Anthonian

THE BEGINNINGS

St. Anthony’s School was established on 1 August 1879 by the Catholic Portuguese Mission of Singapore. It was then called St. Anna’s School and had a mixture of boys and girls.Fr. Jose Pedro Sta. Anna de Cunha, a native of Goa, Assistant of Fr. Nicolau Inacio Pinto, had started the school to cater to the poor children who could not afford an education, even though the school fees then were very low. St. Anna’s School, which was located in a small rented house in Middle Road, did not charge any fees. The six pupils of the first enrolment thus enjoyed free tuition. C.M.E. Buccanam was the 1st principal of St. Anna’s School and was aided by two teachers, Margaret Dias and Mary Anna Ruggelly.

ST. ANTHONY'S BOY'S AND GIRL'S SCHOOL

On 23 February 1886, in conjunction with the shift to the new school building, and with the consent of the Archbishop Primate, Canon Pinto changed the name of the school to St. Anthony’s Boys’ and Girls’ School.

ST. ANTHONY'S BOY'S SCHOOL

The government did not consent to the existence of a mixed school, so Fr. Pinto, on December 1887, compromised by separating the boys and the girls in the school.

In November 1893, under the suggestion of the school inspector that the boys’ school be physically separated from the girls’ school, St. Anthony’s became St. Anthony’s Boys’ School and St. Anthony’s Girls’ School. The boys’ school was transferred to two old shop-houses behind the Parochial House.

NEW BUILDING FOR ST. ANTHONY'S BOY'S SCHOOL

Fr. Antonio Abilio Sapage had petitioned for the erection of a modern and spacious new building for the school. On 21st October 1924, the Bishop of Macao, Dom Jose da Costa Nunes, agreed to build it. The Portuguese Mission and the government shared equally the cost of building the new school. The two old shop-houses were demolished. In June 1926, stood a reinforced concrete, three-storied building for the school. A bronze statue of St. Anthony was placed on the top of it. This building is still standing today and is gazetted for conservation.

ST. ANTHONY'S UNDER LA SALLE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS

On 11th October 1938, the agreement was signed between the Vicar General of the Portuguese Mission and the Visitor of the Christian Brothers in Malaya. In January 1939, the school was formerly taken over and was managed and controlled by the Christian Brothers of St. John Baptist de La Salle. The first Director was Rev. Brother Canice. Rev.

JAPANESE OCCUPATION

During the Japanese Occupation the school continued to function as part of the Japanese Educational System. As a result, the building was not taken over by the Japanese Army. When Liberation Day came, St. Anthony’s was able to resume at once. Brother Christopher took over from Brother Canice as the Director in November 1945.

AFTER THE WAR

In 1954, it was felt that the present location could not provide adequate laboratory and other specialist facilities. Thus, some of St. Anthony’s secondary classes were transferred to St. Joseph’s Institution. In 1961, all the secondary classes were transferred to St. Joseph’s Institution. St. Anthony’s Boys’ School then became purely a primary school.

THE SHIFT TO BUKIT BATOK

The School was relocated in May 1992 to Bukit Batok and became a co-ed school. It was thus renamed St. Anthony's Primary School.

ADMINISTRATIVE SET-UP (1879 TO PRESENT)

ST. ANNA'S SCHOOL

ST. ANTHONY'S BOY'S AND GIRL'S SCHOOL

DIRECTORS OF THE SCHOOL

DIRECTORS AND PRINCIPALS OF ST. ANTHONY'S BOY'S AND GIRL'S PRIMARY SCHOOL

St. Anthony's Boys' School - Victoria Street (1920s)
St. Anthony's Boys' School - After adding a 4th level (1950s)
Staff Photo (1950s)
School Photo, with St Joseph's Church in the background (1960s)
The School today at Bukit Batok
A special reunion of teachers and Anthonians at the Victoria Street campus, to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the school (2004)