The beginning of Assumption Vocational Institute (AVI) can be traced back to 17th Jan 1938, when it was first set up and named the St Joseph’s Trade School. It was started by 2 religious brothers from the Catholic Order of the Brothers of St Gabriel, at the invitation of the Bishop of Malacca, Mgr A. Devals to set up a school for training of the poor and destitute boys. It began with only 2 buildings funded by the Aw Brothers and the inaugural intake of only 14 boys and the courses conducted then were General Mechanics, Carpentry and Printing.

The St Joseph’s trade School was taken over by the Japanese during World War II. After the war, and on the initiative of Bishop Olcomendy, the Brother’s of St Gabriel re-opened the Trade School and an orphanage, in 1948, to house 15 orphans whose parents had perished during the war. In 1950, the Forging, Welding and Motor Mechanics sections were started. In 1951, St Joseph’s Trade School became a Government-aided School. Students who failed their primary school and those who drop out of the secondary schools, form the bulk of the students’ enrolment. In 1953, two new sections, the Rattan and Men’s Tailoring were started. In 1963, with the aid of the Forty Base Workshop REME, Asia Foundation and Colombo Plan, more equipment and furniture were purchased for the Printing Department. There was also change in curriculum for the Mechanics students. For their 3-year training, they were given general training in the first year followed by a 2-year trade course in one of the following trades: Motor Mechanics, Machine Shop, Forge/Welding and Electricity.

In 1970, St Joseph’s Trade School was renamed Boys’ Town Trade School. A year later, it was renamed Boys’ Town Vocational Institute. The Institute received a S$3 million grant financed primarily by the West German Government through Misereor (a West German Catholic Charitable Organisation) and other benefactors of Boys’ Town. In 1989 and 1991, the Rattan and Men’s Tailoring courses were phased out.

On 1st Apr 1994, the Boys’ Town Vocational Institute was renamed Assumption Vocational Institute (AVI) to facilitate the intake of girls in Jan 1995. The Institute underwent S$8 million renovation and upgrading prorgamme and shifted to a temporary holding at the former Mountbatten Vocational Institute, at Dakota Crescent. With the Grant-in-Aid agreement signed, in 1994, between the Brothers of St Gabriel and the Institute of Technical Education, which administers the grant to AVI, 90% of the redevelopment cost was provided by the Government with 10% bored by Boys’ Town. Courses were revamped to better reflect the needs of the students and the industry. The Metal Machining, Motor Mechanics, Carpentry, General Welding and Printing Courses were phased out. The National Trade Certificate Grade 3 (NTC-3) Electrical Installation and Servicing Course remained and 1st Year Basic Vocational Training (BVT) Programme was restructured and the new NTC-3 Mechanical Servicing Course was introduced. In Jan 1995, 64 girls were enrolled into 2 classes for the first time in the history of AVI. These joined the new non-technical option of the BVT Programme. After a year of full-time training, these girls were placed on-the-job training for 11 months and were awarded the Certificate of Vocational Training (CoVT). In 1995, the AVI Management Committee was inaugurated with Mr Gerard Ee as Chairman. The Committee comprises the Brothers of St Gabriel, alumni of AVI and representative from ITE. On 3rd Jan 1996, the Institute moved back to its newly refurbished buildings in Boys’ Town. The courses conducted then were the BVT Programme and the NTC-3 Electrical Servicing and NTC-3 Mechanical Servicing Courses.

In Jul 2002, together with the phasing out of the NTC-2 and ITC Certifications and the introduction of the Nitec and Higher Nitec Certifications in ITE, the NTC-3 was phased out and the ITE Skills Certificate (ISC) was introduced. Those who were awarded the ISC certificate could seek employment with the basic skills equipped during the 2-year training and those who did well could progress to further training at ITE Colleges. Courses available for their choice are Nitec in Automotive Technology, Building Servicing Technology, Electrical Technology, Electronics, Mechatronics, Mechanical Technology and Culinary Service. In Jan 2006, AVI started a new ISC Food Preparation and Service Course to cater to the demands of the hospitality trade and to have a better training for the non-technical girls and some boys who prefer this course. In March 2008, the St Gabriel’s Foundation together with MOE and ITE announced the enhancement and upgrading of AVI with a grant of $28 million which will be re named XXX in Jan 2009 when it begins its enrollment of 300 students. In 2011 at the completion of the refurbishment project XXX will be able to accommodate 700 students.

Currently, AVI accepts youths who have completed PSLE or equivalent and are 14 years old and above. Those who have completed Secondary 3 or equivalent are eligible for direct entry into the 2nd Year.