i'm enrolling into poly soon and i think i need a english name so that it's easier to communicate and more. For school card, must the name registered be according to NRIC?
I think for official documents better put your NRIC name. If im not wrong the school card's name is the name you use to register, and that is what will be printed on the certificate
Make friends that time you can say ur chiense name then say your english name lor.
Maybe you can look for names like Richard, Johnson, Johnny, Jimmy, Malcolm, Nelson, Billy, Willy, Andy, Hilbert, Bobby, Arthur, Fred, George, Samuel, Ernest, Walter if you are a guy
Mary, Jane, Lily, Jennifer, Clara, Emma, Margaret, Patricia, Diane, Kathleen, Pamela, Elizabeth, Cynthia, Nancy, Barbara if you are girl
If you want to add English name, it must be reflected in your NRIC as well in order to be 'recognized'. Just go to any law firm to request a deed poll and pay some $$$ (you can search for those law firms in Chinatown one for cheap service) and go to ICA to submit all the document together. But I think to include your new name, you must also pay about $60 plus take new photo to make an new IC.
Don't worry, your name Ah kow, Ah meow also can communicate. It is nonsense to say that you need ang moh name to communicate. Look at Lee Kuan Yew, he also dropped his ang moh name "Harry" in order to win chinese votes. He is actually peranakan.