Bukit Panjang Government High School

Infobox Singapore School
name = Bukit Panjang Government High School
武吉班让政府中学


motto = Diligent in Study and Practice
established = 1960
type = Government, Autonomous
session = Single
principal = Lee Seng Hai (Mr)
city/town = Choa Chu Kang
school code = 3204
enrollment = add
colours = Red, Green
homepage = [http://www.bpghs.moe.edu.sg/ www.bpghs.moe.edu.sg/] Bukit Panjang Government High School (Abbreviation: BPGHS) is a secondary school in Choa Chu Kang, a residential town in the western part of Singapore. It is one of the top secondary schools in Singapore.

History

Bukit Panjang Government High School was formed in 1960 with the merging of Bukit Panjang Secondary School and Chua Chu Kang Government Chinese Middle School into one single school building at Jalan Teck Whye. It was the first 'integrated' government school in Singapore. The merger reflected the government's attempt to show that students of different races and language streams can study, play and grow together as one school and one people. The spirit of the school's beginning is aptly described in the cover of the first school magazine :

"Dominating the Bukit Panjang horizon are the twin peaks of Bukit Panjang - two peaks but one hill - symbolic of the integrated Chinese and English streams of education which work and play together as one in the valley bellow."

The school, the first secondary school to be opened in the rural West Zone, was officially opened by the Minister of Education, Mr Yong Nyuk Lin on 11 Jan 1960.

Mr Suen Y - Chern was the first principal of the school. The first annual school sports meet was organised in 1960 and in the same year, the first batch of English Stream students sat for their Cambridge School Certificate Examinations.

Mr Yao Kwok Wah took over from Mr Suen in June 1961. Under Mr Yao, various uniformed groups including the Red Cross, Scouts and Army Cadets, were started. The Chinese Stream Higher School Certificate classes were started in 1963 and the first batch of Chinese Stream candidates sat for the Government Higher School Certificate and Government Secondary Four School Certificate Examinations in 1964.

Mr Wee Teck Yam was principal of the school from February 1966 to December 1974. In 1967, the School Advisory Committee was formed. The school continued to make great strides in the academic field. In 1970 the school obtained 93.6% passes in the Chinese School Certificate Exams - the highest among all integrated schools. The Chinese Higher School Certificate results were second only to that of National Junior College. The school band, which has become one of the top marching bands in Singapore today, was also formed in 1967.

In January 1975, Mr Loo Pui Wah took over from Mr Wee as Principal. Upon his appointment, Mr Loo immediately set out to construct the new ECA block first mooted in 1969. The ECA block was completed in June 1976 and was officially opened by Mr Chai Chong Yi, Senior Minister of State for Education.

In 1979, Loo was replaced by Mr Chan Tung Fong. That year the school started an audio-corner and SELP classes to help students improve their English Language proficiency. The school band also won the prestigious gold medal award and the Mace of Honour at the 1979 and 1983 Inter-School Band Competitions.

In March 1981, Mr Chan Tung Fong was succeeded by Mr Yar Yee Har. Yar worked on improving the standard of English language in the school. Under his leadership, the percentage of 'O' level passes in English Language shot up from below 50% to 98% in 1995. Over the years, there was also a consistent improvement in the performance of the students in the other subjects.

Mr Lee Yock Suan, Minister of Education in 1993, announced that the school was one of the six schools to be granted autonomous status in 1994 and that it would be offering Higher Chinese and Higher Malay from 1995.

In 1993, the school moved from its old premises at Jalan Teck Whye to its present site at Choa Chu Kang. The Guest-of-Honour who graced the official opening of the new school building on 15th July 1995 was the MP for Chua Chu Kang, Assoc Prof Low Seow Chay.

Mr Yar retired in January 96 and was replaced by Mr Lim Yam Meng. Over the last few years, the school had been able to attract the top students according to the PSLE results and it is now one of the most sought-after schools in the western part of Singapore. Mr Lim retired in Dec 1998.

Ms Tan Lay Choo was appointed as the 8th principal of the school with effect from 14 December 1998.

Mrs Shirleen Ong was appointed the 9th Principal of the school in Dec. 2002.

Mr Lee Seng Hai was appointed the 10th Principal of the school in Nov. 2007

Past principals

* Mr. Swei Y-Chern (1960-1961)
* Mr. Yao Kwok Wah (1962-1966)
* Mr. Wee Teck Yam (1967-1974)
* Mr. Loo Pui Wah (1975-1978)
* Mr. Cham Tung Fong (1979-1981)
* Mr. Yar Yee Har (1981-1995)
* Mr. Lim Yam Meng (1996-1998)
* Ms. Tan Lay Choo (1998-2002)
* Mrs. Shirleen Ong (2002 - 2007)
* Mr. Lee Seng Hai (2007 - Present)

Achievements in 2007

National Cadet Corps

Gold in Best Unit Competition

St John Ambulance Brigade

Gold in Corp Achievement Award

Astronomy

First Runner up -- NUS/NTU Astrochallenge

Chinese Orchestra

SYF Central Judging for Chinese Orchestras - Silver

Basketball

B Division West Zone 4^th

Dragon Boat

Temasek Regatta Dragon Boat Championship (Boys Category) - 1^st

Choir

SYF Central Judging for Sec School Choirs (Silver)

Modern and Contemporary Dance

SYF Central Judging for Dance (Bronze)

Achievements in 2008

Astronomy

RJC Astrigue Astronomy Competition (Team 1^st Runner Up, Individual Champion)

NYP Astronomy Competition (Team Champion, Individual Champion)

General Science

Ngee Ann Polytechnic SuperScience Olympiad 2008 Electrifying Connections Competition (Team Champion, Team 1^st Runner Up, Team Merit)

Present Day

The school has moved back to its old premises located at 38 Teck Whye Cresent as the location at Choa Chu Kang was upgrading under the government's PRIME, due to be completed by 2009. Its current temporary holding site was also the one used by West Spring Secondary School and Zhenghua Primary School before they moved to their new school building.

chool Crest

The circle symbolises integration and prefection. The red triangle stands for brotherhood while the green background surrounding it represents the green countryside of our district. The three points of the triangle represent freedom, equality and benevolence, which stand as beacons in our lives. The symbols stand for different aspects of our instructional programme: atom - scientific and technical education; the ship - commercial education; the hurdle - physical education.

chool Pupil's Creed

We BPians,
the active heartbeat of the school and nation,
will strive for excellence in all our endeavours,
to bring glory to our school and nation.

We BPians,
will stand tall in the face of adversity,
and stay united in work and in play.
to contribute to the progress of our society.

We BPians,
will uphold family and national values,
with commitment and moral integrity,
to love and serve our school and family.

We BPians,
will venture into the realms of the Arts,
and voyage into the wonders of Science,
to emerge as a gracious and dynamic community.

Notable Graduates

*Sim Wong Hoo, founder of Creative Technology
*M. Nasir, Malaysian singer
*Zulkifli Masagos, Vice President of SingTel, PAP Politician
*Yaw Shin Leong, Worker's Party Politician
*Eelyn Kok, Actress
*Shawn Lee Chuang Rui, Actor in 3 notable Jack Neo films

References

*Bukit Panjang Government High School 45th Anniversary Commemoration Book
*Bukit Panjang Government High School Annual School Magazine

External links

* [http://www.bpghs.moe.edu.sg/ Bukit Panjang Govt High School Official site]