The recent principal reshuffle is to recharge school leaders and to allow educators to better collaborate with one another, said Education Minister Heng Swee Keat in a Facebook post on Sunday night.

"Each principal who takes up a new posting does not face a blank slate," he wrote. "He or she can do even more for the students and teachers at that school because of the foundation laid by the principals and supportive parents that have already done much at that school."

On Friday, the Ministry of Education announced that at least 10 senior principals will be deployed as heads of heartland schools from next year, as part of its push to make "every school a good school".

In all, 60 schools, including Raffles Institution and Methodist Girls' School, will get new heads. Of the school leaders taking up new posts, 25 are newly-appointed principals.

Mr Heng expressed his confidence that the principals will be able to take their schools to new heights, as they "find tremendous meaning and joy in getting to know the strengths and the aspirations of their new schools and students".