For the first time that term, he didn't close the book. He left it open.

"Open your Huo Dong Ben to page 37," Ms. Priya said, her voice echoing in the tense silence. "Let's go through the answers for Section 3: 'Managing our Diverse Society'."

He took a breath. "I wrote about the Chinese Orchestra tryouts. How I didn't fit in. And… I wrote that the only thing that would have helped was if someone just… said I could sit next to them."

They moved through the answers. Three ways Singapore promotes religious harmony. Jun Hao had them: the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act, Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles, and common spaces like community centres. Wei Jie had written: 1. Don't pray too loud. 2. Share cookies during CNY and Hari Raya. 3. The teachers shout at you if you make fun of someone's turban.

He quickly slammed his notebook shut.

"Number one," Ms. Priya called out. "Jun Hao?"

Then came the final question of Section 3. Ms. Priya’s voice was soft. "Number 12. This is the reflection question. 'Think of a time you felt excluded because you were different. How did it make you feel, and what could someone have done to help?'"

A collective, quiet groan. For most, the Huo Dong Ben was a swamp of blank lines, confusing infographics, and questions that felt like they had been written in a different language. But for one student, Wei Jie, it was a battlefield.

Ms. Priya didn't say "correct" or "wrong." She just smiled. "Thank you for sharing your answer, Wei Jie. That is the most honest answer Section 3 has ever received."