Raffles Institution (RI) has put up a Facebook post addressing a photo of its students doing blackface in 2016.

The photo was opportunely circulated online after George Floyd's death in the United States, which sparked #BlackLivesMatter protests internationally.

In their post, RI acknowledged the photo and the traction it has gathered in the community.

They emphasised that it was a "private" birthday celebration organised by a group of friends, and called the use of black paint and black face masks "clearly inappropriate and insensitive".

"We do not condone such cultural insensitivities and regret that their actions have caused distress and hurt to the community," the post said.

The school added that teachers would have intervened and counselled the students if they had known about their plans.

They also revealed that the students involved have contacted the school to apologise for their actions, in addition to the apologies on social media and the letters that were sent to media outlets.

In response, the school is "heartened" by the former students’ courage and determination in stepping forward to apologise, and to take responsibility for their actions.

The post ends off with a message for diversity and inclusivity.

You can read it in full here: