SINGAPORE - Old boys of Maris Stella High School will be familiar with a quote the school often refers to: “To be a Marist gentleman”.

This is set to change with its primary school taking in girls for the first time from 2027.

Alumni whom The Straits Times spoke to said the introduction of girls could change the culture of the all-boys school, but understood the decision, citing a decreasing birth rate as a challenge for school enrolment.

Some said taking in girls could also have positive effects such as encouraging more diversity in the school.

The Ministry of Education said on May 6 that Maris Stella High (Primary) will be going co-educational in 2027.

Both the primary and secondary schools at Maris Stella’s Mount Vernon campus will also be rebuilt from 2027 to 2029.

Mr Benedict Koh Yong Peng, 63, president of the Maris Stella High School Alumni Association, said: “Of course, (the school culture) can’t exactly be the same, but the Marist spirit is over 60 years old and should be maintainable.”

Mr Koh, general manager of a consultancy, said that even if the concept of a “Marist gentleman” changes, the old school motto 勤勉忠勇 – which loosely translates as “diligent, loyal and brave” – will remain.

Mr Jeremy Ng Jing Yan, 43, chairman of the parent support group at Maris Stella High (Primary), who is also an alumnus, said: “There’s one part where being an old boy myself in a boys’ school, I will be a bit sad about the change, but change is inevitable.”

Mr Lee Zhi Rong, 22, who graduated from Maris Stella High in 2018, said: “I will say I’ve had many of my fondest memories over there, where it was just a group of boys. I had one of the best interactions with people who remain my lifelong friends.”

That said, with girls joining, perhaps the school could start to offer a larger variety of co-curricular activities (CCAs), said Mr Lee, who is currently studying at Singapore Management University.

“Maris Stella High is well known for its sports CCAs such as basketball and softball, but I think there are more traditionally female-dominated CCAs such as the choir and certain performing arts that the inclusion of females would add diversity to,” he added.

Alumni said the decision to go co-ed would also bring more convenience to parents who have both sons and daughters, and could strengthen emotional and social skills for boys as they learn how to interact with girls from a young age.

Mr Jared Lim Eu-Jun, 52, a father of six boys and one girl, who is 10 months old, said: “I don’t have to worry about where to send my daughter as she can join her brothers in Maris Stella High in 2030.”

Mr Lim, the owner of a video production company, added: “Boys tend to roughhouse more than girls, so the inclusion of girls could help younger children play in a gentler manner.”

Mr Koh said: “Sons and daughters can be in the same school, and it’s easier for parents to take them to the same school. Also, it will be catering to the nearby area because Maris Stella is the only SAP school around the area.”

SAP, or Special Assistance Plan, is a scheme to preserve Chinese-stream schools and develop bilingual students with traditional Chinese values.

The rebuilding of Maris Stella from 2027 to 2029 is long overdue, said alumni, who added that the current campus lacks several sports facilities like a running track and football field. The most recent upgrade was in 1996.

“The school has been there for quite some time. It’s about time to rebuild because we don’t have any facilities modern schools have, such as indoor stadiums and track fields,” Mr Koh said.

Mr Ng, a corporate benefits manager, said: “I think our school has been quite good at some CCAs – we are the national champions for softball even though we don’t have a softball field... My hope is to have a softball field in the future that is multifunctional.”

Mr Lim hopes famous statues such as those of the Marist Brothers and the iconic school gate will be preserved during the rebuilding process.

“One day, when I become a grandfather and go back to the school, I hope to see some elements of both the past and the present.”