THE latest international school here - One World International - was officially opened yesterday.

Located at 696 Upper Changi Road East, on the premises of the former Siglap-Changi Community Centre, it is the 44th foreign-system school here.

The school, which can take in 450 students, has had three pupils enrolled in its preschool and primary-level classes since it opened its doors early last month.

Sixteen more students will join the school by the end of the year, when secondary-level classes start.

With about half a dozen inquiries coming in daily, principal Noel Hurley is confident that the school will start the new year with 100 to 150 places taken up.

The school was started by Mumbai-based businessman Nishant Garodia, who said that retrofitting a former community centre to turn it into a school - instead of building a place from scratch - enabled construction to be completed in just three months.

About $2 million was spent to build 16 air-conditioned classrooms, and facilities such as a multi- purpose hall and a library.

Economic Development Board international director Liang Ting Wee declared the school open yesterday.

Tara Eshwar, six, who arrived from New Zealand three weeks ago, said: 'I like the school very much. We get to sing songs and play games. I am happy that I will be making many new friends.'

AMELIA TAN

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Oct 3, 2008.

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