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Fuhua Primary School 辅华小学 (Formerly Fu Hua Public School 公立辅华学校)

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1940s - 1986; 1986 - Present


History
Fuhua was established in the early 1940's. It has its humble beginnings as a village school which was originally situated at Upper Jurong Road in the vicinity of the present Nanyang Technological University. 

 Known orginally as Fu Hua Public School, it was built by a group of public spirited villagers who were determined to provide the best education for their young. Fuhua became a government aided school in the late 1960s. 

The school was relocated at its present site in 1984 to make way for development and has since become a government school The present building was officially opened in 1986 by the then Member of Parliament for Jurong, Mr Ho Kah Leong.

Reference:

South View Primary School 南山小学 (Formerly Nam San School/Ama Keng School 前南山学校/亚妈宫学校)

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1946 - 1990; 1951 - 1990; 1990 - Present

History - Nam San School
Nam San School was founded on 2nd February 1946, with students housed in three separate locations: temple, wayang stage and warehouse. Under the first principal Mr. Kua Chu Yan, the student population was a mere 157.

In June 1946, Mr Ong Koh Bee, a community leader, initiated a fund-raising project to build a school. Villagers contributed generously towards the fund. Eventually $13,000 was raised, together with a donation of 1.75 acres of land. By 27th March 1947, the building for Nam San School was built at 12 miles Choa Chu Kang Road. The building had only 5 classrooms.

1948 saw the first batch of 12 students completing their Primary School Education. The next two years saw an increase in enrolment, with the number of classrooms expanding to 7. The School Management Committee (SMC) was formed in 1954, with Mr. Ong Koh Bee as its first Chairman. Over the next four years, the school building expanded and facilities upgraded to cater to a growing student enrolment. By late 1960s, a Nam San Branch School was founded and the total student population for Main/Branch Schools grew to 1087. After serving as Principal for over 25 years, Mr. Kua retired in 1971. He was succeeded by Mr. Chan Cheok Lock. By 1975, another fund-raising project was launched to build a bigger school. Under the leadership of Mr. Ng Chung Hung, $600,000 was raised. With the money, the Main School was demolished in order to build a new 3-storey building. This was completed in 1977. By then, the classrooms had increased to 20. As Nam San School moved into the 1980s, Mr. Ang Chian Poh succeeded as the new Chairman of the SMC, replacing Mr. Ong Koh Bee.

History - Ama Keng School
Ama means "Grandmother" in Teochew and Hokkien, and Keng means "Temple". The Ama Keng Chinese Temple in Lim Chu Kang was built in 1900 to worship the holy mother, a goddess of peace and happiness.

Ama Keng School came into being in September 1951. Its first building was 3 single-storey blocks with 14 classrooms. The school functioned with 53 pupils. Over the next 12 years, the enrolment increased ten-fold to over 570.

Between 1965-1973, student population again doubled. As such, an expansion program was launched. The result was a 4 storey-block of 12 classrooms and a hall-cum-canteen in 1973. This $300,000 building was officially declared open by Member of Parliament (Choa Chu Kang) Mr. Tang See Chim on 23rd June 1973.

During the 1970s, Ama Keng School also became an integrated school and a Chinese-medium class was started. But by the 1980s, Chinese medium classes were phased out.

In 1990, Ama Keng School merged with Nam San School to form South View Primary School which is located in Choa Chu Kang.

Wei Sin Public School 公立维新学校 (Former)

Qihua Primary School 启化小学 (Formerly Kay Wah School 公立启化学校)

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1938 - 1988; 1988 - Present


History 
The school name Qihua Primary School is the hanyu pinyin name of Kay Wah School, founded in 1938 by a group of warm hearted pioneer educators led by Mr Neo Tiew the Headman of Ama Keng village. In Chinese, Qihua means ‘the opening of minds to receive education’.

There were no schools in Lim Chu Kang in the 1930s, with the exception of a few study centres. Mr Neo Tiew, the headman of Ama Keng Village and Mr Lim Kim Hoon, a Principal from China, together with a group of caring and far-sighted community leaders, began the challenging task of merging all the study centres together to for Kay Wah School. It was then a Chinese medium school with an enrolment of about 200 pupils. It was briefly closed during the Japanese Occupation but re-opened after World War II with an enrolment of 2000 pupils in its 3 branches.

The school’s 3 branches were Kay Wah Main at Tong Hoe Village for upper primary levels, Kay Wah Branch I at Ama Keng Village and Kay Wah Branch II at Nam Hoe Village for lower primary levels, run by 3 Principals: Mr Ong Hang Tin, Mr Choo Phie Ching and Mr Tan Chek Sen respectively to cater to the rising educational needs of the farming community. In 1976, the school was officially declared a government school by Mr Tang See Chim, then Member of Parliament.

In 1980 the school adopted English as its medium of instruction. When the farming community in Lim Chu Kang was resettled to set aside the area for military purposes, the school’s 3 branches merged into one and shifted to its current address in Woodlands and was renamed Qihua Primary School.


Kay Wah School School Song 
 公立启化学校校歌  




Kay Wah School School Motto
 公立启化学校校训


Qihua Primary School School Song 
 启化小学校歌  











References: 
启化第一分校扩建校舍落成典礼纪念特刊 1976

Keming Primary School 克明小学 (Formerly Keok Ming Public School 公立克明学校)

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1935 - 1992; 1982 - Present

History
Keming Primary School was first built in 1935 and was located at Holland Village. It was established by a group of enthusiastic and philanthropic pioneers to the educate children of the villagers. As the school grew, it shifted to Chip Bee Garden.

In 1962, the school was given notice to relocate as the owner wanted back the land. More than 30 years since its founding, the school had the honour of our then Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, to grace its official opening in 1966 at Buona Vista.

 After attaining full government status in 1982, it was renamed Keok Ming Primary. In 1987, the school was relocated to Bukit Batok and was known as Keming Primary since.

Keming prides itself in exhibiting a culture of warmth, care and friendliness within and outside of the school community. We are committed to develop our students holistically, guided by our MA PIES (Moral, Aesthetic, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, Social) framework.


Keok Ming Public School School Song (Former)
公立克明学校校歌 (旧版)


Keok Ming Public School School Motto (Former)
公立克明学校校训 (旧版)

Shuqun Primary/Secondary School 树群小学/中学 (Former Seh Chuan High School 前树群中小学校)

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1933 - 1983; 1983 - Present

Seh Chuan High School School Song (Former)
 树群中小学校歌 (旧版)



Seh Chuan High School School Motto (Former)
 树群中小学校校训 (旧版)


Juying Primary School 聚英小学 (Formerly Ju Eng Public School 前公立聚英学校)

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1940 - 1987; 1995 - Present

History
Juying Primary School began its history as Ju Eng Public School in Jalan Kayu. The school was founded by Mr Ang Oon Hui in 1940 as a Chinese-aided school. The Hanyu Pinyin translation of Ju Eng is “Juying” which means “a gathering of talents”. 

During the Japanese Occupation, the school was closed and it opened its doors again in 1945. Ju Eng Public School continued to serve the community until 1987 when it was forced to close its doors due to a dwindling enrolment. However, the spirit of community service lived on and Mr Ang Oon Hui converted the school building into a Home that provides welfare services for the elderly and needy regardless of race and religion. 

It started functioning again on 2 January 1995 as a government English school. The Ministry of Education decided to retain its name as the school had a long history and good PSLE results. The new Juying Primary School was officially declared open on 1 August 1997 by Mr Peter Chen, Senior Minister of State for Education and Member of Parliament for Hong Kah GRC.

References:

Boo Teck School 武德学校 (Former)

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1955 - 1981
Nanyang Sim's Clan Association 南洋沈氏公会

History

武德学校第12周年纪念特刊 1967 -献词

Boo Teck School School Song
武德学校校歌




Boo Teck School School Motto
武德学校校训




References:
武德学校第12周年纪念特刊 1967

Villages (And Schools) at the North of Singapore

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The origins of Nee Soon Village can be traced back to 1850 when 44 acres of land in the kangkar (meaning the land around the riverbank, river mouth or river's leg in Teochew) in Seletar was purchased for gambier and pepper plantations. Situated along the upper portions of the Seletar waterway, the kangkar was made up of the area around the junctions of Sembawang Road and Mandai Road. Apart from Nee Soon Village, there were other surrounding villages, such as Chye Kay Village, Mandai Tekong Village, Kampong Jalan Mata Ayer, Heng Leh Pah Village, Bah Soon Pah Village, Hainan Village, Hup Choon Kek Village, Kampong Telok Soo, Kum Mang Hng Village, Kampong Jalan Kula Simpang, Sembawang Village and Sungei Simpang Village.

The kangkar was the commercial centre of Nee Soon estate all through the nineteenth century. Nee Soon estate grew from the gambier and pepper plantations that started along the Seletar River from the 1930s onwards. These plantations lured employment-seeking immigrants who then set up settlements or villages along the Sungei Seletar waterways. Villages were also established along old roads such as Upper Thomson Road, Seletar Road, Mandai Road, Yio Chu Kang Road, Sembawang Road, Bah Soon Pah Road and Chye Kay Road.

Nee Soon Village was originally called Chan Chu Kang after its owner, and was later named Nee Soon Village after Lim Nee Soon for Nee Soon's contribution to the rubber industry. Lim Nee Soon set up the Thong Aik Rubber Factory at the kangkar in 1912, which was renamed as Nee Soon & Sons in the 1920s. It was purchased by Lee Kong Chian in 1928 and its name was changed to Lee Rubber. In the early 20th century, Bukit Sembawang Rubber Company set up district offices in the kangkar area, at Chye Kay Village and in the Bah Soon Pah area. In the 1930s, attap houses were built in the kangkar area and a bridge laid across the Seletar River to enable communication between the kangkar and the villages across it. A cinema called Pei Li Cinema was opened here in the 1930s. It was renamed Seletar Cinema after being purchased by Lim Chong Pang in the same decade.

After the war, the kangkar developed rapidly. In 1947, Koh Chin Chong constructed the Nee Soon Market at the junction of Thong Aik Road and Nee Soon Road which led to the development of the road and its surroundings. Burnt down in 1979, a makeshift market was built there until it gave way to urban redevelopment work that formed the Yishun New Town. With the development of land transport in the post-war years, the kangkar became one of the most densely populated rural areas in Singapore. A taxi stand was built in the kangkar in 1951. In 1953, the government reconstituted the Rural Board and it looked into the development of villages. As a result amenities like maternity clinics and standpipes were added, and by 1955, all roads were officially named and postal services established.

In the mid-1960s, traditional traders dealing with firewood, laundry and bicycles gave way to motor-car and electrical appliances dealers. Modern shophouses were also built, replacing the attap and zinc ones. With the introduction of television in Singapore in the mid-1960s, the charm of open air cinemas and opera shows began to decline. Piped water, electricity, refrigerator and hi-fi set joined the list of daily necessities in Nee Soon Village. The signs of urban development were seen in the English schools and the medical and community facilities established here. Three community centres were opened here in 1963, one at Bah Soon Pah, another at Mandai Tekong and yet another at Ulu Seletar. Three more community centres followed - the Nee Soon Community Centre in 1965, and the other two at Chye Kay Village and Kampong Sah Pah Siam.

In 1976, the Yishun New Town Project was initiated by the government. Made up of 919 ha of land, the Nee Soon estate was converted into an urbanised town with public housing and industries. Residents of Nee Soon Village were first relocated to different places according to their profession before construction of the New Town began in 1977.

Kangkar Village
Located at the end of Upper Serangoon Road, this kampong was pulled down in 1984. It was a coastal village made up of attap houses and was popular for its wholesale fish market. The kampong was cleared to make way for the construction of the S$ 11 million Ponggol fishing port.

Chye Kay Village
This village was located within the old Nee Soon estate or present-day Yishun New Town. In 1905, Chen Chia Keng (b. 21 October 1874, Jimei, Tong'an, Quanzhou, Fujian - d. 12 August 1961, Beijing, China), set up a pineapple canning factory in Nee Soon Village. To ensure a continuous supply of pineapples for his factory, he purchased 500 acres of land to plant pineapples. In 1907, when he learnt that rubber was a profitable crop, he planted rubber between pineapple plants. This plantation presumably provided employment to the residents of Chye Kay Village. The villagers here constructed the Chu Sion Tong Temple, which also served as a charity home for the aged and destitute people. A school called the Lee Cheng School was constructed here in the 1930s. Classes used to be conducted on a wayang stage. It closed down during the war and was re-established after the war with the Japanese war-time offices being used as classrooms. In the early 1930s, another school calledKwang Teck School was constructed here by the Ngee Ann Kongsi. In 1948, the Lee Teck School was constructed with funds donated by the residents of Chye Kay Village. English schools were established in the kangkar from the late 1940s onwards, beginning with the Sembawang School along Sembawang Road. The main economic activities of the villagers here were vegetable farming, fishing and orchid farming.

Chong Pang Village
Part of Nee Soon estate, Chong Pang Village was originally called the Westhill Village or Westhill estate. Westhill Village was located at the twelfth milestone at Seletar opposite the Sembawang Aerodrome. It was named by the government as Chong Pang Village in 1956 as a tribute to Lim Chong Pang (b. 6 June, 1904 Singapore - d. 1956 Singapore), the son of Lim Nee Soon. Lim Chong Pang was a businessman who served as a member of the Rural Board from 1929 to 1938. Chong Pang Village centred around a row of shophouse units which made up the village's business, commercial and residential core. The western and south-western boundaries of the village were next to the extensive Ulu Sembawang vegetable and fruit farming regions. To the north of the village was the former British Naval Base constructed in 1938.

Heavily dependent on the rubber plantations for their living, the villagers were adversely affected by the collapse of the rubber in 1935. Thankfully, the British Naval Base came into the picture and provided plenty of employment. The construction of the Paya Lebar Airport in 1953-1954 led to an exodus of households from Paya Lebar into Chong Pang, leading to a swelling of Chinese households in the village, even outnumbering the Indians who were until then the majority of the village's population. During the Japanese invasion, many inhabitants fled the village for fear of being killed by the Japanese soldiers. The area around Sultan Theatre, which was built by Lim Chong Pang, was converted into a red-light district and the theatre itself was used to store ammunition.

In March 1989, the village was razed to the ground and in its place today stands the Sembawang New Town. The present day Chong Pang housing estate, known as Chong Pang Garden, is in the Yishun New Town. Built in 1981, Chong Pang Garden is made up of 923 housing units and is flanked by Sembawang Road, Yishun Ave 5, Yishun Ave 2 and Yishun Ring Road on its four sides.

Heng Leh Pah Village
Part of Nee Soon estate, this village was situated off Upper Thomson Road. It was also called Phua Village. Phua Village was home to the Heng San Temple. The villagers here brought along their ancestral deity from their village in Nan An district in Fujian and established this temple in the 1910s. The land owners of this village took up coconut planting in the early 20th century. The government granted 50% land rebate for six years to all land owners to grow coconuts. The coconut plantations were useful to the pig farmers in this village as well because coconut residue was used as pig feed. There was a boom in pig farming after scientific methods were introduced in the 1960s, resulting in more income for the pig farmers. In 1979 however, the government decided to restrict pig farming to Lim Chu Kang and Ponggol.

The villagers established Xing Dun School in 1936 and lessons were taught in Mandarin. By the 1970s, the village had begun declining as young members left to seek employment in other parts of Singapore. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the villagers were resettled in Yishun New Town and other estates in the north. As for Hwee San Temple, it relocated to Yishun in 1997. Today, the Phuas still gather here to celebrate their festivals every ninth Lunar month

Mandai Tekong village
Situated off Mandai Road, the Mandai Tekong Village boasted the largest number of big vegetable farms than others in the Nee Soon estate. Like Phua Village, the boom in pig farming in the 1960s also boosted the income of the villagers here until the restriction in 1979. Traders would ply Mandai Tekong Village and the villages in Bah Soon Pah to buy vegetables from the farmers for sale in town. The villagers also took to large-scale orchid farming in the 1960s.

Bah Soon Pah
The Bah Soon Pah area in the Nee Soon estate was made up of a cluster of villages such as Kampong Telok Soo, a.k.a., Kampong Kitin, and De Lu Shu Village. These villages were situated around the Bah Soon Pah Road, off Sembawang Road. The villagers in Bah Soon Pah reared chickens which became a thriving business from the 1960s onwards. They also reared ducks and grew vegetables. The low-lying swampy area favoured prawn and fish breeding, leading to prawn and fish ponds. Similar ponds were also found in Chye Kay Village and Heng Leh Pah Village. Tropical fish breeding caught on In the 1960s. In 1934, the villagers of Bah Soon Pah set up the Hua Shun Gong Fu De Ci temple, a.k.a. Hua Shan Gong temple. In the 1930s, the Teochews and Hokkiens set up the Chian Nan School and Hua Soon School respectively.

Hup Choon Kek Village
Part of Nee Soon estate, this village was home to the Wei Leng Keng temple, built in the 1930s.

Yio Chu Kang ("Chia Keng" in the Chinese dialect) Village
Situated along Yio Chu Kang Road, it remained in existence until the late 1980s.

Yew Tee Village
This village was located off Woodlands Road. Yew Tee means "oil pond" in Teochew and the name came about as this place was used by the Japanese to store oil during the Occupation. Yew Tee became a household name with the construction of the Yew Tee MRT station which is located where the village used to be, near Stagmont Ring. It was once a bustling village numbering 300 families. The residents worked mainly as small-time vegetable and poultry farmers. When the land in Yew was developed and new estates like Chua Chu Kang and Jurong East came up, many residents began moving out. The Yew Tee Community Centre, set up in 1963 and one of Singapore's oldest community centres, closed down in 1998. The closure was due to under-utilisation which reflect the exodus of population from the area. In 1991, it was an obscure sleepy village with less than 20 zinc-roofed houses.

Several Malay villages that used to exist in the northern part of Singapore, from Kranji through Woodlands to Yishun. The villages were Kampong Jalan Mata Ayer, Kampong Wak Hassan, Sungei Seletar villages, Kampung Wak Selat and Kampong Lorong Fatimah. 

Kampong Jalan Mata Ayer
This was a Malay kampong in the Nee Soon estate along Sembawang Road. The Malay population in the Nee Soon estate was considerably small. Most of them lived either in this kampong or at the junction of Jalan Ulu Seletar. The Malays built a mosque, Masjid Ahmed Ibrahim, at the junction of Ulu Seletar. It was named after the Assembly member Ahmad Ibrahim, who won as an independent candidate in the Legislative Assembly elections in 1955 representing Sembawang.

Kampong Wak Hassan
Kampong Wak Hassan was one of the more resilient Malay villages which survived even though many kampongs disappeared by the seventies and eighties. Located opposite the Sembawang Park, Kampong Wak Hassan, remained until the late nineties. The Malay and Chinese families of the village were asked to move out in 1998 to make way for new developments.

Sungei Seletar villages
The villages along Sungei Seletar included Kampong Lorong Mayang. They were a part of the Nee Soon estate. Most of the villagers were farmers, and they engaged in fishing and catching shells to earn additional income.

Kampung Wak Selat
This was a Malay Kampong along the Malayan Railway line at Mandai. It was located off a dust track at the end of Kranji Road abutting the Kranji Industrial Estate. The living and religious structures were not elaborate, with a wooden shack used as a mosque. Communal activities of the villagers took place around a clearing at the centre of the kampung, an area that was also used as a football ground with the goalpost made from wooden frames. Two provision stores or kedai as they are known in Malay stocked basic necessities for the villagers. Each house had its own piped water supply. Established in 1947, Kampung Wak Selat was one of the last kampongs remaining on mainland Singapore before it was pulled down in 1993.

The villagers were given until 23 May 1993 to clear from the kampong. An appeal sounded to the government by Edmund Waller, a senior lecturer at the School of Architecture of the National University of Singapore, brought media and public attention to the fate of the villagers, and a debate ensued centring around the need to preserve the kampong as it was part of Singapore's history. But by April 1993, only twelve of the 44 houses remained inhabited. Many villagers became averse to loosing their privacy to the spotlight and unwanted public attention, harassing them with too many questions. Despite the last-ditch effort to save Kampung Wak Selat, the government decided to go ahead with its demolishing plan as the poor drainage of the kampong became worse after a wall was erected that separated the village from the Kranji Industrial Estate. The resulting stagnant, mosquito-infested pool of black ditch water posed a health hazard. Most inhabitants of Kampong Wak Selat also preferred to move to the Marsiling HDB Housing Estate. At the time it was pulled down, the kampong was made up of 70 houses, a prayer house and a football field.

Kampong Lorong Fatimah
This Malay kampong was situated off Woodlands Road, near the causeway, past the immigration checkpoint. It was in existence even in the late eighties. Some of the houses were constructed on stilts. Only a small channel separated this kampong from Johor. In the past, this kampong was filled with sampans or koleks ferrying people between Johor and Singapore. With the sea on one side and a jungle on the other (before Woodlands was fully developed), this kampong seemed very cut-off from the rest of urban Singapore. Entertainment in the past included ronggeng (a Malay ethnic dance) with the nomadic boat people who came here with their gongs, drums, tambourines and violas. Shopping was done from Indian men who came on bicycles carrying bundles containing clothes, towels and sarongs. Most of the villagers here were fishermen and boatmen. When industries were set up around Woodlands, many of them found jobs in the factories, while the younger ones found work in hotels and banks in Orchard Road. Kampong Lorong Fatimah was pulled down to make way for the construction of the Customs Department extension to the Woodlands Checkpoint. The kampong's residents were relocated, mainly to the Marsiling and Woodlands HDB estates.

References:

Lee Teck Public School 公立励德学校 (Former)

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1948 - 1980s

History
Ho Peck San Temple was established in the early 1900s in Chye Kay Village in Sembawang by Chinese immigrants from Fujian province, China. These pioneers brought along with them a statue of their deity, Lord Qi, and incense ashes from their hometown's temple dedicated to the Trinity Rulers of Taoism. These were first enshrined in an attap hut, which was later replaced by a new temple building in 1950. A permanent opera stage was constructed at around the same time and doubled up as a classroom for village children. The founders of the Temple also established two schools, one of them Lee Teck Public School (公立励德学校) and the other Lee Cheng Public School (公立励正学校), in Chye Kay Village.

Xishan Primary School 西山小学 (Formerly Si San Public School 前西山公学/西山小学)

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1937 - 1985; 1985 - Present
Dialect: Hakka 客家
History
In 1937, Si San Public School was started by a group of Chinese businessmen and philanthropists to promote Chinese education in Sembawang. The School was taken over by the Government in 1985 and the medium of language was converted to English. Si San Public School was renamed as Si San Primary School.

In 1986, the school moved to its new premises in Yishun. It not only received its Hanyu Pinyin appellation: Xishan Primary School, but also a new racial composition. Pupils of several races now made up the school population. With the new premises, came new and modern facilities- special rooms, indoor badminton courts, basketball courts, computer laboratories to name a few. The school motto of LOVECARE and SHARE became the character and soul of Xishan Primary School.

In 1999, the school underwent major upgrading changes (PRIME). A 6-storey classroom block, a life-science laboratory and a Before-And-After School Care Centre were some of the new additions.

Si San Public School
西山小学




  

Reference:

Peiying Primary School 培英小学 (Formerly Poi Eng Public School 前公立培英学校)

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1941 - 1987; 1987 - Present

History
Formerly known as Poi Eng Public School, this is one of the oldest schools in Yishun. It began in 1941, when two Chinese schools, Zang Hua School and Qi Zhi School merged to form Poi Eng Public School. Zang Hua School was formerly called Fa Chu School and was established by Lim Nee Soon in 1919 along Jalan Ulu Seletar. The school was first located at Upper Thomson Road in an attap house. Funded by philanthropists and Chinese associations, the school provided primary education to children living in Nee Soon. In the 1980s, the school became a government school and relocated here in 1987

Reference: http://bigbus.wordpress.com/category/uncategorized/page/3/




References:

Jalan Ulu Sembawang 惹兰乌鲁三巴旺: Huamin Primary School 华民小学 (Formerly Hua Mien Public School 公立华民学校) ; Cheng Chi School 增志学校 (Former) and Chung Yee Public School 公立中玉学校 (Former)

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Schools Along Jalan Ulu Sembawang  惹兰乌鲁三巴旺一带的学校

从前,有一条名叫惹兰乌鲁三巴旺的乡间小路,从三巴旺大路十三英里左转进去,全长约六七英里,一路上农田茅舍,随处可见;俗称“福山园”,又名“烂泥港”。
在这片僻静而广阔的农村中,村民大多来自福建, 也有四间略具规模的公立华文小学—民正、华民、中玉和新华。
Jalan Ulu Sembawang was first named in July 1948 as a dirt track off the 13th milestone of Sembawang Road, just south of Chong Pang Village - then one of the largest towns in the north of Singapore - and Sungei Simpang Village. The road served the rural villages and vast plantations around the Mandai and Ulu Sembawang areas. 

The majority of the residents along Jalan Ulu Sembawang were Hokkien, descendents of immigrants from the southern China, with surnames Toh or Ang. There were also 4 relatively well-established schools along Jalan Ulu Sembawang, namely Hua Mien Public School, Cheng Chi School, Chung Yee School and Sin Hua School.

Reference: http://poskod.sg/Posts/2013/3/22/Road-to-Nowhere

Hua Mien Public School 公立华民学校 / Huamin Primary School 


1945 - 1986; 1989 - Present

History
The original government-aided Hua Mien School, started in 1945, was situated at 226 Jalan Ulu Sembawang. The old school finally closed down 41 years later in 1986. 

Huamin Primary School derives its name from Hua Mien School. It opened its doors in Yishun New Town in 1989. Classes were first held in temporary premises at Northland Primary School in 1988. The Huamin Primary School Advisory Committee was formed in April 1991 with Mr Ang Kieow Mok as its chairman. Huamin Primary was officially opened on 22nd November 1991.




Cheng Chi School 增志学校

History
Cheng Chi School (增志学校, later known as "Cheng Chi Primary School") was located at Stephen Lee Road, off Mandai Road. It was established in 1932 with the help from Reverend Father Stephen Lee Teck Bong and sponsored by Catholic Mission. The Chinese-medium school was closed during Japanese Occupation and was reopened in 1946. Later, it became a government-aided school and was closed down in 1979 due to low enrolment of students.




Chung Yee School 中玉学校

《联合晚报 - 光阴的故事》 
1962年,中学刚毕业,校长林光永先生便把我带进中玉小学,担任华文老师,我在这里一呆21年。记得电视剧《雾锁南洋》也在操场后方的茅屋拍摄,我们全校师生连续几个月都可看到向云、黄文永等在茅屋内拍戏,好不兴奋。




References:
Solemnity of the feast of St. Anthony and golden jubilee of the establishment of the Christian Community : 1927-1977

Schools in Queenstown

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Queenstown is the first satellite town in Singapore built by the Singapore Improvement Trust in the 1950s, later completed by the Housing and Development Board in the 1960s. The apartments ranged from 1 to 3 room flats, housed in low-rise, walk-up blocks. Previously known as Boh Beh Kang, the British made plans to develop the land in Queenstown to ease the overcrowded situation in Chinatown. However, the failure of the SIT led to the completion of the estate by the HDB, where close to 20,000 units were built.

Queenstown comprised of 7 main districts, namely Commonwealth Estate, Tanglin Halt Estate, Princess Estate (Strathmore/Dawson), Duchess Estate (Duchess/Queenstown Centre), Mei Ling/Mei Chin Estate, Queens' Close/Crescent Estate and Buona Vista Estate. To cater to the burgeoning population in Queenstown, more than 20 schools were established within the 7 districts, including:

Schools in Queenstown (Click to enlarge)

SNSchool Motto
1New Town Primary School光道小学Be Ready To Serve
2Permaisura Primary SchoolSekolah Rendah PermaisuraBejaya / Success
3Tanglin Integrated Primary School东林混合小学Think, Improve, Progress, Succeed
4Mei Chin Primary School美景小学 Honour, Courage, Perseverence
5Queenstown School女皇镇学校Onward To Success
6Birkhall School普华小学Give Of Your Best
7Margaret Drive SchoolEver Onward
8Hua Yi Primary School华义小学Hanya Yang Ikhtiar Subor
9Strathmore SchoolStrive For Success
10Kay Siang School启祥小学Forward & Onward
11Tanglin Girls' SchoolTruth, Glory, Service
12Tanglin Boys' SchoolPlay, Study & Obey
13Ghim Moh Primary School锦茂小学 
14Keok Ming Public School (Keming Pri)公立克明学校礼义廉耻 / Courtesy,  Righteousness, Integrity, Sense of Shame 
15Buona Vista Secondary School建国中学 Ever Onward
16New Town Secondary School光伟中学To Forge A Better Life
17Tanglin Technical Secondary School (Tanglin Sec)东林工艺中学Berusaha Untok Bejaya / Strive For Success
18Queensway Secondary School女皇道中学 Success Through Diligence
19Mei Chin Secondary School美景中学 Progress Through Achivement
20Commonwealth Secondary School立才中学Ever With The Best
21Hua Yi Government Chinese Middle School (Hua Yi Sec)华义政府华文中学仁义智群 / Benevolence, Justice, Wisdom, Togetherness
22Queenstown Technical Secondary School (Queenstown Sec)女皇镇工艺中学Berani Berkhidmat / Dare To Serve
23Ghim Moh Secondary School锦茂中学 Strive and Persevere
24Baharuddin Vocational Institute (Temasek Poly Design School)
25Townsville Institute城景高级中学With Fidelity And Discipline
  
Photo Credit: http://myqueenstown.blogspot.sg/

Photo Credit: http://myqueenstown.blogspot.sg/


Schools in Lim Chu Kang

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Schools Along Lim Chu Kang Road and Neo Tiew Road 林厝港路与梁宙路一带的学校

Remember Singapore recently published an article on the history of Ama Keng, one of the 3 large Chinese villages located in Lim Chu Kang. Lim Chu Kang was originally made up of large areas of pepper and gambier plantations. In 1910s, Neo Tiew 梁宙 (1884 - 1975), originating from Lam Ann Fujian, was entrusted by the landowners to lead over 800 workers in the development of Lim Chu Kang, such as rubber plantations, coconut plantations, agriculture and farms.

Located at 18 ms Lim Chu Kang Road and Neo Tiew Road respectively, Thong Hoe Village (通和村) and Lam Hoe Village (南和村) were both named after the shophouses set up by Neo Tiew to cater to the daily needs of the workers in the early periods of development. Most of the infrastructure within the villages were also set up by Neo Tiew, including the village houses, electrical and water supply. Ama Keng Village (亚妈宫村), located along 16-17 ms Lim Chu Kang Road, was named after the Ama Keng Temple built in 1900 by Lim Nee Soon.

As Lim Chu Kang began to flourish in the 1930s, there were no proper schools to cater to the educational needs of the farming community in the area. In 1938, a group of warm hearted pioneer educators, led by Neo Tiew, began the challenging task to merge the study centres in the 3 villages to form Kay Wah School 公立启化学校 (now Qihua Primary School), a Chinese medium school with an enrolment of about 200 students. In mandarin, 'Qi Hua' means 'the opening of minds to receive education'. The school was closed during the Japanese occupation but re-opened after the war with an enrollment of over 2000 pupils. Kay Wah School had 3 branches, namely Kay Wah Main at Thong Hoe Village for upper primary levels, Kay Wah Branch I at Ama Keng Village and Kay Wah Branch II at Nam Hoe Village for lower primary levels, run by 3 principles, Mr Ong Hang tin, Mr Choo Phie Ching and Mr Tan Chek Sen respectively. In 1980, the school adopted English as its medium of instruction. As the villages around Lim Chu Kang were resettled in the 1980s, the 3 branches of Kay Wah School merged and moved to Woodlands New Town in 1987 to form the new Qihua Primary School.
 
In 1951, Ama Keng School 亚妈宫学校 was founded with 53 students in a single storey building with 14 classrooms. The school population grew quickly to 570 in 1963, and doubled between 1965-1973. As such, an expansion program was lunched to build a 4 storey block of 12 classrooms and a hall-cum-canteen in 1973. Ama Keng School became an integrated school when a Chinese-medium class was started. But by the 1980s, the Chinese medium classes were phased out. In 1990, Ama Keng School merged with Nam San School to form South View Primary School.

Two other schools which were set up in the Lim Chu Kang area are Lim Chu Kang Primary School 林厝港学校, located at the junction of Jalan Bahtera and Lim Chu Kang Road, and Loke Yang Public School 公立洛阳学校, located at the junction of Lim Chu Kang Road and Lim Chu Kang Lane 3.




SNSchool Motto
1Kay Wah Public School (Main, Branch I, II) (Qihua Pri)公立启化学校勤爱诚朴 / Industry, Love, Honesty, Purity
2Ama Keng Primary School阿妈宫小学Alert, Keen, Steady
3Lim Chu Kang Integrated Primary School林厝港混合小学 /广扬小学忠善知 / Knowledge, Character, Knowledge
4Loke Yang Public School 公立洛阳学校
 

References:
http://www.qihuapri.moe.edu.sg
http://www.southviewpri.moe.edu.sg
http://sgcls.zhongwenlink.com/news_read.asp?NewsID=11502
http://lostnfiledsg.wordpress.com/2012/10/07/kranji-heritage-trail-part-1/


Schools in Jurong, Boon Lay & Tuas

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Jurong Road is one of the oldest road in Singapore and was constructed in 1852 - 1953 during the colonial era to link the rural area of Jurong to the rest of Singapore. It was extended in 1929 to Bukit Timah Road, which branches off from 7 1/2 milestone Bukit Timah Road (intersection of Jalan Jurong Kechil and Bukit Timah Road), close to Pei Hwa School and the former Seh Chuan High School.

For the local Chinese population, Jurong was formerly called peng kang, a reference to a gambier plantation located in the area. After 1906, rubber plantations dominated the area — Bulim Estate, Lokyang Estate, Chong Keng Estate, Seng Toh Estate and Yunnan Estate, giving rise to many of the local names for areas in Jurong. The majority of the Chinese immigrants living around the villages in Jurong came from Fujian Anxi and worked as rubber tappers and plantation workers. As there was a severe lack of schools in the 1900s, the pioneers of the Ann Kway (An Xi Clan) Association villages visited villages across Singapore, including Jurong, to encourage them to set up their own  schools on the wayang (chinese opera) stages within the villages.

Of which, schools which were set up by the Ann Kway (An Xi) immigrants in Jurong includes Joo Hwa Public School, Joo Koon Public School, Sin Nan Public School, Joo Long Public School, Fu Hua Public School, Pei Teck Public School and Loke Yang Public School (Lim Chu Kang area). 

With the establishment of the Jurong Industrial Estate in the 1960s, housing estates such as Teban Gardens, Pandan Gardens, Boon Lay Gardens and Taman Jurong were built at the fringes of the industrial estate to encourage workers to move to its vicinity. This also brought about the establishment of schools within the housing estates to cater to the educational needs of the children, such as Jurong Town Primary and Jurong Integrated Secondary. 

The villages along the old Jurong Road gradually gave way to the newer housing estates, such as Bukit Batok, Yuhua, Jurong East, Jurong West and Boon Lay. As of now, the only stretch which remains untouched is the one running parellel to PIE from Hong Kah Flyover to Bukit Batok Road.

Schools in Jurong, Boon Lay and Tuas (Click to Enlarge)

SNSchool Motto
1Pei Hwa School (Pei Hwa Presbyterian Pri)培华学校忠诚 / Loyalty & Honesty
2Toh Tuck Primary School笃德小学Tread The Path Of Service
3Bukit Batok Primary School (East & West)武吉巴督小学(东、西)Strive For The Best
4Wei Sin Public School公立维新学校礼义廉耻 / Courtesy,  Righteousness, Integrity, Sense of Shame 
5Joo Hwa Public School (Yuhua Pri)公立裕华学校勤朴诚勇
6Pei Teck Public School公立培德学校勤朴诚勇
7Sin Nan Public School (Xingnan Pri)公立醒南学校诚毅勤朴
8Joo Rong School (Jurong Pri)裕廊学校Forward
9Boon Lay Garden Primary School文园小学Strive For Perfection
10Joo Long Public School (Rulang Pri)公立孺廊学校礼义廉耻 / Courtesy,  Righteousness, Integrity, Sense of Shame 
11Boon Lay Primary School文礼小学Behold The Light
12Fu Hua Public School (Fuhua Pri)公立辅华学校(Frugality & Honesty)
13Joo Koon Public School (Yuqun Pri)公立裕群学校(Strive & Shine)
14Jurong Town Primary School育园小学 From Each His Best; Maju Jaya
15Yung An Primary School永安小学Progress Forever
16Pulau Merlimau Primary School (Merlimau Pri)美茂小学Strive For The Best
17Pandan Primary School博仁小学Perservere, Progress & Serve
18Princess Elizebeth Estate School (Princess Elizebeth Pri)伊丽莎白公主学校Patiente Et Sapientia / Patience & Wisdom; Each His Best
19Seh Chuan High School (Shuqun Pri/Sec)树群中小学校亲善忠诚 / Fraternity, Loyalty & Honesty
20Toh Tuck Secondary School笃德中学知行合一 / Match Knowledge With Deeds
21Jalan Lama Secondary School育明中学
22Jurong Integrated Secondary School (Jurong Sec)裕廊混合中学忠勤诚爱 / Loyalty, Industry, Sincerity, Love
23Yuhua Secondary School裕华中学Towards Excellence
24Yuan Ching Secondary School耘青中学今日耕耘,明日长青 / Efforts Today, Rewards Tomorrow
25Boon Lay Secondary School文礼中学爱与恕 / To Love & To  Forgive
26Jurong Junior College裕廊初级学院Plus Ultra 
27Bulim Primary School广渊小学

Map of Schools in Jurong, Boon Lay & Tuas (Click to Enlarge)

Realigned Jurong Road (Starting from Bt Timah Fire Station instead of Beauty World Junction); Bukit Batok East and West School; Wei Sin Public School (Next to St Mary of the  Angels Church)
Photo Credits: http://sgforums.com/forums/1279/topics/342472

Former Jurong Road between Jurong East Central and Jurong Town Hall Road; Joo Hwa Public School; Jalan Lama Secondary School (Current Location of Crest Secondary/Former Commonwealth Secondary; Pei Teck Public School (Present Location of Heavy Vehicle Park)
Photo Credits: http://sgforums.com/forums/1279/topics/342472

Jurong Road between Jurong Town Hall Road and Hong Kah Flyover; Jurong School (Present Location of Green Haven Home); Sin Nan Public School
Photo Credits: http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.sg


Former Jurong Road at 18 milestone; Joo Koon Public School
Photo Credits: http://bigbus.wordpress.com

Schools in Sembawang

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Schools Along Jalan Ulu Sembawang and Sembawang Road

Jalan Ulu Sembawang was first named in July 1948 as a dirt track off the 13th milestone of Sembawang Road, just south of Chong Pang Village - then one of the largest towns in the north of Singapore - and Sungei Simpang Village. The road served the rural villages and vast plantations around the Mandai and Ulu Sembawang areas. 
The majority of the residents along Jalan Ulu Sembawang were Hokkien, descendents of immigrants from the southern China, with surnames Toh or Ang. There were also 4 relatively well-established schools along Jalan Ulu Sembawang, namely Hua Mien Public School, Cheng Chi School, Chung Yee School and Sin Hua School.

Sembawang Road, the other key road in the area, began in the 1920s as a dirt road and was renamed Sembawang Road in 1938. The road connects the naval base in the area to the city and is dotted with many Chinese villages and Malay kampongs. These eventually gave way to the establishment of Sembawang and Yishun new towns.

Schools along Jalan Ulu Sembawang and 12-14 ms Sembawang Road (Click to enlarge)

SNSchool Motto
1Cheng Chi School增志学校
2Chung Yee Public School公立中玉学校
3Hua Mien Public School (Huamin Pri)公立华民学校
4Si San Public School (Xishan Pri)西山公学
5West Hill School
6Camberra School
7Lee Teck Public School公立励德学校
8Hwa Kwang Public School公立华光学校
9Sembawang School
10Poi Chai Public School公立培材学校
11Naval Base School军港学校Enitamur In Altiora / Be The Best

Schools Along Former Jalan Ulu Sembawang and Sembawang Road (12 - 14 milestones) (Click to Enlarge)

Former Path of Jalan Ulu Sembawang (From Mandai to Former Chong Pang Village)
Photo Credit: http://poskod.sg/Posts/2013/3/22/Road-to-Nowhere

Schools in Chong Pang; Camberra School; Naval Base School; West Hill School; Si San Public School
Photo Credit:  http://www.canberra79.tripod.com

Malay Kampongs around 14 milestone Sembawang Road; Sembawang School
Photo Credit: http://swallowerwins.blogspot.sg

Schools in Bukit Merah

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Do you still remember the myth of Bukit Merah and the little boy who came up with the clever idea of building a row of banana tree trunks to defend the fisherman from the swordfish. In December 2011, Remember Singapore published an article about the history of Bukit Merah and Redhill and the developments in the area over the years, where the development of the housing estates along Jalan Bukit Merah, such as Henderson, Redhill Close and Lengkok Bahru has led to the establishment and amalgamation of numerous schools in the region. In the following post, we try to recollect the 21 schools which once stood in Bukit Merah, Alexandra and Henderson.

Schools in Bukit Merah and Alexandra (Click to enlarge)

SNSchool Motto
1Belvedere School
2Jervois West School
3Jervois East School
4Jervois Primary School
5Delta Circus School立道小学Determination, Consideration, Progress, Success
6Henderson Primary School达善小学
7Hwa Kong Public School公立华光学校
8Keng Seng Public School公立更生学校
9Keng Seng Primary School更生小学Strive For Success
10Tai Wah Public School公立大华学校
11Alexandra Hill Primary School阿力山大山小学Usaha Itu Jaya
12Redhill School红山学校Knowledge, Courage & True Endeavour
13Bukit Merah North School红山北学校Onward
14Bukit Merah South School红山南学校Be Modest, Sincere & Staunch
15Bukit Merah Primary School红山小学Excellence
16Henderson Secondary School达善中学Education For Life
17Tiong Bahru Secondary School立道中学Maju & Jaya
18Crescent Girls' School克信女子中学Courtesy, Generosity, Sincerity
19Xianglin Primary School祥林小学
20Bukit Merah Secondary School红山中学Sedia
21Hua Yi Secondary School华义中学仁义智群 / Benevolence, Justice, Wisdom, Togetherness

Map of schools in Bukit Merah and Alexandra (Click to enlarge)

Photo Credit: http://www.bigbus.wordpress.com

Photo Credit: http://www.bigbus.wordpress.com

Schools in Tiong Bahru, Bukit Ho Swee and Outram

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As I was writing this post, I was reminded by a television serial which I had watched in 2002 when I was in secondary one. Named 河水山, or Bukit Ho Swee in mandarin, the backdrop of the serial was set in the kampongs around Bukit Ho Swee in the 1950s prior to the infamous 1961 fire which destroyed more than 2200 attap houses and put 16000 people homeless. Till this day, I could still remember the lyrics and melody of the serial, which was produced at a time when Channel 8 was producing local dramas which I loved to watch.

 

Bukit Ho Swee was named after Tay Ho Swee, a prominent figure in the Chinese community in the 19th century. In the early days, Bukit Ho Swee was the site of a disused Chinese cemetary and a large number of squatter huts, which gradually turned into a crowded attap slum as the poorest of the population, including labourers, hawkers and secret societies, moved into the area. (Source: Blog to Express) After the 1961 fire, a big national development plan was undertaken by the newly formed Housing and Development Board. Victims of the fire were housed in the recently built flats in Queenstown and St Michael's, while land in the Bukit Ho Swee area was acquired to facilitate the building of over 8000 flats. It was also after the fire when Jalan Bukit Ho Swee, the key road in the area, was built, where more than 10 schools where built in its vicinity. This included Bukit Ho Swee East Primary, Bukit Ho Swee West Government Chinese Primary, Bukit Ho Swee Secondary, Tiong Bahru Primary, Tiong Bahru Secondary, Delta Circus Primary, Delta Secondary and Seng Poh Government Chinese Primary School.

To the south of Jalan Bukit Ho Swee lies the estate of Tiong Bahru built in the 1930s. Interestingly, most of the streets within the estate are named after the early Chinese pioneers in Singapore, such as Seah Eu Chin, Tan Chay Yan, See Eng Watt and Tan Seng Poh. (Source: Remember Singapore). In fact, the word 'Tiong' means 'to die' in hokkien and 'Bahru' means 'new' in malay as the area was previously used as a burial ground for the Hokkien community. (Source: Tiong Bahru Heritage Trail)

Moving southeast from Tiong Bahru lies the Outram district. Commonly known as 'si pai por' , or Sepoy Plains in Hokkien, Outram and Pearls' Hill was the site of the Sepoy barracks housing the Indian soldiers who were employed by the British to maintain law and order in the British settlements. The key roads in the area, namely Outram and Havelock Roads, were also named after the 2 Generals who led the English army in the 1857 Indian Mutiny. Due to its proximity to the nearby Chinatown, Tiong Bahru, Bukit Ho Swee and Kampong Bahru districts, Outram was also home to numerous schools, including Outram Primary, Outram Secondary, The Chinese Industrial & Commercial Continuation School (later Gong Shang Primary), Pearl Park School (Pearl Bank School and Park Road School amalgamated), Pearls' Hill School (Pearls' Hill School and Pearl Park School amalgamated), Silat Primary School and Chiang Teck Public School (later Zhangde Primary).
Schools in Tiong Bahru, Bukit Ho Swee and Outram (Click to enlarge)
SNSchool Motto
1Tiong Bahru Primary School  (Formerly Kai Min Public School/Jiemin Pri)立达小学Modest & Self-Reliant
2Chuen Min Public School (Quan Min)公立全民学校
3Kai Kok Public School (Jie Gu)公立介榖学校
4Bukit Ho Swee East Primary School河水山东小学Kema Juan-Progress
5Bukit Ho Swee West Government Chinese Primary School河水山西政府华文小学
6Bukit Ho Swee Primary School河水山小学
7The Chinese Industrial & Commercial Continuation  School (Gongshang Pri)南洋工商补习学校勤俭诚敬 / Perseverance, Thrift, Integrity and Respect
8Sepoy Line Malay School
9Pearl's Hill School珍珠山学校Perseverence, Honour, Success
10Pearl Bank School
11Park Road SchoolTruth & Honesty
12Pearl Park Primary School
13Outram Primary School欧南小学Stribe & Perservere
14Silat Primary School石叻小学Pelajaran Asaskemajuan
15Chiang Teck Public School (Zhangde Pri)公立彰德学校
16Delta Circus School立道学校Determination, Consideration, Progress, Success
17Seng Poh Government Chinese Primary School成保政府华文小学
18Bukit Ho Swee Secondary School立达中学Belajar Dan Berkhidmat / Learn & Serve
19Delta Secondary School德才中学Towards Knowledge & Virtue
20Tiong Bahru Secondary School立道中学Maju & Jaya
21Outram Secondary School欧南中学Labour Omnia Vincit
22University of Singapore 新加坡大学

Schools in Tiong Bahru, Bukit Ho Swee and Outram

Goodbye Hong Kah, Qiaonan, Bedok West & Griffiths Primary Schools

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The past week had been an really intense week for me as I was really caught up with my Honours Year Project, leaving school after midnight every day. However, I still managed to catch the huge buzz online as MOE announced the impending merger of 6 schools next year, where 4 schools will officially go into the history books in 1 Jan 2014 - Hong Kah Primary, Qiaonan Primary, Bedok West Primary & Griffiths Primary School.

Stay tuned for more stories about these 4 wonderful schools. If you have any personal stories of your time in these schools, drop me a mail at txls89@gmail.com =)

Regards,
SK
Hong Kah Primary School


Qiaonan Primary School (Formerly Kiau Nam School at Lorong Koo Chye and Tai Seng)


Bedok West Primary School (Formerly Kaki Bukit Primary School)

Griffiths Primary School (Formerly Griffiths School at Towner Road)

Singapore's unsung pioneer schools should be more than just footnotes

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By Leong Chan-Hoong
Most of us would not have heard of Qiaonan Primary, at least not until last Thursday.
No thanks to the decline in the fertility rate, some of the less popular schools in Singapore’s mature estates have witnessed a drastic decline in student enrolment numbers over the years. In a few extreme cases, there were barely enough pupils to fill up a class.
Last week, Qiaonan, Bedok West, Griffiths and Hong Kah primary schools became the latest victims of our population conundrum. In the name of optimal resource allocation, the Ministry of Education issued the schools with marching orders.
From next year, Bedok West Primary and Hong Kah Primary will be absorbed by Damai Primary and Lianhua Primary, respectively, while Qiaonan Primary and Griffiths Primary, both of which are in Tampines, will merge to form Angsana Primary.
In one fell swoop, the names of the four primary schools, Bedok West, Griffiths, Hong Kah and Qiaonan, will be erased from the national directory of schools.
This is by no means an isolated case. Ghim Moh Primary was absorbed into New Town Primary in 2009; and in 2000, Li Hua, Hong Dao and Ang Mo Kio North Primary were amalgamated to form Anderson Primary.
While the consolidations may appear as mere footnotes in the annual education report, the closure of the schools is likely to elicit more than a tinge of poignancy for some. Former pupils, teachers and even long-time residents will lament the unrelenting march of history that reshapes familiar neighbourhoods.
From a broader perspective, the demise of these institutions will also have repercussions on the discourse on Singapore’s future. How we deal with our past will have an impact on our sense of place and identity as Singaporeans.
 Qiaonan's Remarkable Story
Previously known as Kiau Nam School, Qiaonan Primary was founded by the Wenzhou Clan Association. In 1933, its first intake of 20 pupils started classes at a rented unit in the now-defunct Lorong Koo Chye. In 1940, the director of the school board donated his house at Paya Lebar Road to be used by the school and its pupils. It was closed during the Japanese Occupation, but reopened after the end of the World War II.
Student enrolment figures soared to 480 in the late 1950s. Makeshift classrooms were added to accommodate the influx of pupils. Classes were purportedly conducted within the confines of a Chinese temple at the peak of its space crunch. In all, the school clocked more than 80 years of history, a period that is longer than Singapore has been independent.
The Qiaonan narrative is not unique. Started in 1950, Griffiths Primary shared an equally illustrious past, chalking up 64 years of dedicated teaching.
Illuminating Singapore's future through history
At a time when Singaporeans agonise over the meaning of citizenship and identity, we may do well to take stock of how we treat our history.
Qiaonan and Griffiths may not rank among the league of more established schools such as Raffles Institution, Anglo-Chinese School and Methodist Girls’ School, which draw a larger number of applicants each year than they can accommodate.
The humble beginnings of these neighbourhood schools, however, are the founding pillars of modern Singapore and no less important. Pioneer institutions such as Qiaonan were built on sacrifice, in the name of philanthropy and communal obligations. Their rich histories epitomise the unyielding spirit of resilience, hope and faith — a quintessential ingredient in the Singapore narrative.
These floundering schools served the needs of our society at a time when the prognosis for the little red dot was bleak. Behind such institutions are numerous unsung, nameless individuals who dedicated themselves to the missions of the schools. The school closures, announced unceremoniously, are akin to us flipping the pages of our history with scant recognition of the role of Singapore’s pioneer generation.
Can we do more to preserve our local heritage? Has due consideration been given to relocate the schools to housing estates with younger families? Or rejuvenation of the schools through combination/affiliation with secondary schools? Or revamping of the schools to teach other education models, such as social enterprise?
We can also consider honouring the pioneers of these neighbourhood schools by naming community spaces or buildings after them.
The closures of these schools may be inevitable in light of an ageing demographic landscape. Nonetheless, their humble beginnings and role in educating the pioneer generation of Singaporeans hold lessons on perseverance, hard work and collective ownership, which should be taught outside the classroom.
Remembering these schools and their founders can be our way of remembering our forefathers who trod the rocky path of independence on our behalf.
Reproduced with author's permission.

保校 (侨南小学)

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联合早报 2014323 陈秋华


 一九五三年新加坡温州会馆三十周年纪念



“我校名侨南,矗立在狮岛……”


这是侨南小学校歌的首句歌词,现在看来令人不胜唏嘘,相信曾在侨南孕育下成长的校友都会有此感触。



本报日前报道《六小学合并成三所》的新闻,内容透露了历史最悠久的侨南小学校名不获保留的消息。报道刊登后,引发不少关注,读者主要是为80年老校走入历史感到惋惜。为了保住校名,侨南校友会日前向教育部请愿,希望能有一次对话的机会,说出当年的“约定”。



同许多华校一样,侨南在上世纪80年代也因收生人数骤减而面临关闭。那时的侨南还只是补助学校,而非政府学校。校董最终因无法筹足经费,只好将学校交给政府,条件之一是要求政府保留“侨南”校名。



坦白说,在政策改变、优化资源的大前提下,我对不时上演的学校合并和易名之事早已习以为常。因此在报道这则新闻时,最令我感到意外的不是校名不获保留一事,而是校友会在这之前竟然毫不知情。



访谈中,侨南校友会主席林永强不止一次提到,最令他无法接受的是,校友会是在有关事宜尘埃落定后才接获通知,他甚至以“迅雷不及掩耳”来形容消息来得突然。林永强在说这一番话时,语气尽显无奈。



诚然,以目前整体的教育景观而论,侨南其实只是教育部众多学校中的一所,当年既然已“过名”给政府,教育部在做任何决定之前确实无需征询校友的意见。但是,制度不外乎人情,不是吗?



教育部在做出这么重大的决定之前,没有直接与校友会联系并协商、探讨其他可能性就定案,在情理上似乎说不过去。尤其是像侨南这样历史悠久、桃李满狮城的学校,在处理上是否应该更具人情味一些?



关闭一所学校、除去一个校名,不仅仅是在教育部的学校名单上抹去一行字而已。抹去的,是一整代人的情感记忆;切断的,是校友与母校之间的联系。



林永强说,当初他与另外三名友人成立校友会,就是因为有此隐忧,希望有朝一日能借校友之力保住学校,没想到最终还是没有获得对话的机会。



他这一番话,不禁让我想起多年前华中初级学院和华侨中学的更换校名事件。回想起来,华中要比侨南幸运多了,至少校友能决定校名应怎么改,不像侨南只落得“被通知”的结果。



事实上,侨南从创校至今曾多次努力尝试保校,目的就是为了不辜负先贤对办学的坚持。它除了接受学校成为政府学校,也曾多次主动要求教育部让侨南搬迁以改善收生情况。



然而,反观教育部在做出合并和改名的决定时,它是否事先探讨了各种可能?以校名与侨南调转的南侨为例,该校在金炎路的旧校址一度也面临关闭的命运,并经历了保校还是保地的挣扎。但南侨在搬到盛港后,就如浴火重生的凤凰一般获得新生。



一所学校的创立、迁移或停办,折射的是一个时代的历史和精神。听林永强说,侨南创办人王希元在二战时期宁可冒着被日军杀死的危险,也要坦荡荡地表明自己是一名教师,最后果真被痛恨知识分子的日军给枪毙了。如此对教育义无反顾的热血,令人动容,也体现了侨南的精神。如今,有关方面选择以“事后通知”的方式结束一所拥有80年历史的学校,显得仓促。


写这篇文章之前,听说教育部已经接到请愿书。跟侨南校友一样,我也在静心期待着教育部的回复。希望教育部这回不会再轻易翻过我国学校历史重要的一页。


收集文物纪念消失的华校 An Exhibition on the Lost Chinese-Medium Schools in Singapore

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为纪念消失的200多所华校,本地华校生,发起收集华校文物的活动,3个月内收集几十样物件,包括校服、照片、成绩单、毕业证书等。   



看着桌上泛黄的黑白照、以中文书写的成绩单、毕业证书以及校服,不禁让人想到五六十年代的新加坡,华人如何出钱办校,让孩子上学。 近200所华校关闭 华校校友会联合会会长潘国驹教授说,在50年代的顶峰时期,本地有多达283所华校。这些华校中9所成为特选学校,一些则转型成政府学校,近200所华校后来关闭。   

为了纪念这些消失的华校,潘国驹和华校校友会的同伴们决定在7月11日至20日之间,在华侨中学举办“消失的华校”展览。   

“年轻一代都没念过华校,我们希望他们能认识这段历史。我们也想通过这个展览,传承华文教育和道德传统。”   

为了筹备展览,华校校友会自去年11月起,在报章上刊登广告,呼吁仍保留着对母校的回忆和相关资料的校友们,把它们贡献出来。   

目前已收集到三四十所学校的文物,其中有一个还是著名书法家施香沱当校长时所赠予学生的字。他们也邀请了6所特选学校的学生参与。

Source: http://mypaper.sg/chinese-news/shou-ji-wen-wu-ji-nian-xiao-shi-de-hua-xiao-20140220


联络方式 Email:txls89@gmail.com 

Do you have any grandparents, parents or relatives who used to study in one of the 283 Chinese-medium schools in Singapore? If you like to share your story, or your old school mementos, such as the school certificates, report book, badges, uniforms and photographs, leave a comment or drop me an email! Thank you =)

当年华校的除名与保名

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联合早报 2014年4月17 刘家明 
“更生,更生,1939矗立狮子城,弘扬文化,乐育群英,先贤惨淡经营……”。我的两个姐姐和妹妹,在一年级还没有认得多少个中文字的时候就开始唱(背)这首小学校歌了。当时谁都没有去问什么是“先贤惨淡经营”,当然,就算问了也是一知半解。更生小学的校址是由当地热心教育的猪农和乡绅们捐赠的,所以上学的路上常是“遍地黄金”(猪粪),上课时偶尔也有迷途的猪只闯人课室。

校门上“更生小学”四个字乃出自书法家张瘦石先生之手,负责学校在1962年扩建的绘测师,正是已故王鼎昌总统的父亲。到了我上小学时的60年代,在红山区亨德申路的更生小学已算是颇有名气了。
更生小学1960年度修业式 
更生小学1960年毕业学生留影

更生小学乐队庆祝1974年国庆

到了70年代中期,由于全国华文教育逐渐没落,学校的收生人数降到不及300人,在大势所趋之下,更生不得不与Strathmore小学和Friendly Hill 小学联合成“混合小学”经营。新联合学校迁到亚历山大路,校名仍保留为“更生”,但改用Friendly Hill小学的校徽,以及Strathmore 小学的校歌。


新“更生小学”于1980年6月27日,由当时红山区的国会议员林子安开幕。联合小学成立后,三间小学其实都已名存实亡了。2002年1月2日,新联合的更生小学再与亚历山大山小学和亨德申小学联合,并改名为颜永成小学,更生小学正式被“除名”,从此在本国的教育史里消失了。

1955年是我国的“动荡年代”,由于当时学潮、工潮不断,殖民政府下令关闭了参与学潮的民办华文中学,并成立政府华文中学。华义政府华文中学便是在这大环境下于1956年10月14日建立的。校舍先设在当时加东附近的法礼路(Fowlie Road),翌年迁到纽顿的蒙克山小学的临时校舍后,同年再搬到女皇镇的玛格烈通道。庄重奋发的校歌是由著名音乐家丁祝三作曲,林弘道填词的。60年代后期到70年代中期是华义的全盛期,华义政府华文中学是当时数一数二的华文高级中学。在1969年更史无前例地在学校旁边,成功建筑了第一个由政府向社会人士劝募的大运动场。



好景不长,虽有校歌里“负时代之使命,挽狂澜之既倒,作砥柱于中流”之大志,但由于华文教育之势微,华校学生人数递减,华义不得不于1983年迁到直落布兰雅的德普路新校舍,同时转型为英文中学,“华义政府华文中学”则易名为“华义中学”。学校渐渐重上轨道后再迁到目前的裕廊西校舍,新校舍由当时的林文兴部长于2002年揭幕。幸运的是华义没有被“除名”,所以过了将近58年,华义学校的老、中、青三代校友,还有机会于2014年3月29日,在大操场被铲平之前,及时在玛格烈通道的旧址来个名为“往事只能回义”的千人大聚唱。



最近又传出有80多年历史的“侨南小学”因为收生人数不足,被“除名”与其他小学整合为新学校的报道;同时又巧遇华校校友会联合会向公众征求150多间已消失的华校的资料,看来许许多多过去由“先贤惨淡经营”的小学都已经过了除名、易名的宿命。话还要说回来,英文小学其实也经历着同样的命运,许多小学如前面提到的Friendly Hill, Strathmore和亚历山大山等等,也一样在社会的巨轮向现代发展时被淘汰、除名,只不过这类新闻没什么上报罢了。


Heritage Exhibition - Chinese Schools: Our Lasting Legacy 华校校史展——“消失的华校 国家永远的资产’’ (13-20 July 2014)

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2014年華校校史展:''消失的華校''展覽會-國家永遠的資產''

华校校友会联合会举办“2014年华校校史展:消失的华校”展览会即将于7月 13日至20日上午9时至下午5时在华侨中学正式开锣。这是华校校友会联合会继2008年举办“新马24所华校校史展”后的第二个校史展。为了向过去百年为新加坡培育人才的华校致敬,我们陈列了已经完成使命,走进历史的华校的文物和历史,展示当时的教育工作者是如何在店屋、仓库、戏台、树下,没有电灯、电扇的困顿环境里,坚持教导学生艰苦学习并勤恳待人。我们希望通过回顾那段历史,新加坡人能够借鉴先辈披荆斩棘、勇往直前的办学精神,从而更加珍惜现在。

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