Hwa Chong Junior College

Hwa Chong Junior College (zh-c|c=华中初级学院) was a junior college in Singapore founded in 1974. On 1 January 2005, Hwa Chong JC merged with The Chinese High School to form Hwa Chong Institution.

Overview

Founded in 1974, Hwa Chong Junior College (HCJC) has, since its inception, stood out as one of Singapore's premier learning institutions. It is the second oldest junior college to be founded, after National Junior College, and is the first Government aided junior college.

The college has an excellent track record in academia, sports, music, culture and the arts. It is assumed that alumni will go on to become leaders in research, industry and government. Hwa Chong JC was widely recognized as one of the top junior colleges in Singapore in the 1980s. On 8th May 1987, Hwa Chong JC was forced to move out of its premises in Bukit Timah due to structural problems with the building. It held lessons temporarily at Ngee Ann Polytechnic from May to December 1987. It shifted to Bukit Batok Street 34 (Current Swiss Cottage Secondary and St Anthony's Primary School site) until the college premises were rebuilt in 1992.

Since moving back to its Bukit Timah premises, Hwa Chong JC has resumed her place as the top junior college in Singapore based on the official college rankings introduced in the 1990s - she is consistently ranked as the top college for Arts and Commerce, and she frequently trades pole position with its present key rival Raffles Junior College for top position in the Science stream and the overall ranking.

In January 2004, it became the country's first junior college to turn independent.

To date, HCJC has produced the highest number of President's scholars among all junior colleges in Singapore. The President's scholarship is the country's most prestigious undergraduate award offered by the Public Service Commission. Hwa Chong students also take an impressive share of government and private organisation undergraduate scholarships every year. Over 99% of each cohort go on to undergraduate study, with more than 15% going to renowned overseas universities.

Every year, about 25% of each cohort of students in Singapore are admitted to one of 16 junior colleges. HCJC admits pre-university students who are within the top 5% of the cohort. All 1800 students are selected on the basis of academic merit, personal qualities, and excellence in a wide range of co-curricular activities. HCJC also has the distinction of being the top college for two elective programmes: namely, the Humanities Programme and the Chinese Language Elective Programme. HCJC has the highest percentage of students awarded government scholarships for these two programmes amongst the colleges that offer either programme.

Similar to other junior colleges, the 2-year Advanced-level (A-level) curriculum is very demanding. School is in session 5 days per week (5½ days before implementation of 5-day work week), 40 weeks per year. Many students vying for prestigious overseas and local scholarships read S-level papers in 1 or 2 subjects in addition to the GCE core curriculum. The academic year begins in January and students sit for the GCE A-level and S-level examinations in November of the second year.

History

In 1970, then Singapore Minister for Education Ong Pang Boon approached a group of Chinese community leaders from the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCSI) to discuss the possibility of establishing 10 junior colleges to replace the pre-university classes in the senior high sections of Singapore's secondary schools.

Ong informed the Chinese community leaders that the construction cost of one junior colleges was estimated to be S$2.2 million, and the government hoped that the SCCCI would be able to raise half of the total costs i.e. S$1.1 million with the government matching the contributions. Ong subsequently appointed Tan Kong Choon, a prominent business leader and Managing Director on the Board of The Chinese High School to drive the issue.

After the SCCCI leaders had met and discussed among themselves, the Chinese community leaders informed Ong that with the current financial abilities, they found it rather difficult to raise such a huge amount of funds for the construction of 10 JCs although the establishment of one to two junior colleges were more likely to be realised.

Subsequently, the management boarb of The Chinese High School decided to stop the School's pre-university classes in preparation for the establishment of a new junior college. In 1974, Hwa Chong Junior College was established at the Bukit Timah Road campus of The Chinese High School, under the same management board with the latter school as its affiliated secondary school. The name "Hwa Chong" was an abbreviation of the Chinese name "Hua Qiao Zhong Xue" (华侨中学) of The Chinese High School, to signify its roots and the close relationship between the two schools. Hwa Chong Junior College is the first government-aided junior college, and the second, after National Junior College.

Merger

The Chinese High School was merged with Hwa Chong Junior College on 1 January 2005 after 31 years of separation to become Hwa Chong Institution, offering a 6-year "Integrated Programme" from Secondary 1 to JC 2. The program allows students to skip the GCE 'O' Levels and directly take the GCE 'A' Levels examination at the end of their six years in the school, thus allowing them much more time to embark on various educational endeavours that will greatly benefit them. Nanyang Girls' High School also joined the programme but it is separate and independent.

chool songs

The English version of the school song is as follows:

As part of our glorious land, sharing her spreading fame,Hwa Chong will firmly stand, always to maintain her name.Multi-racial we study together, for knowledge we wish to attain.Many races we shall gather, each day to achieve its aim.We shall strive with verve, for health in body and mind.We'll learn to lead and yet to serve in character ruggedly fine.May Hwa Chong shine forever, her name big and strong,One and all, let's stand by her, that she may live on and on.

The Chinese version of the school anthem is as follows:

我们亲爱的祖国 一片兴兴向荣华中巍峨矗立 肩负教育的重任兄弟姐妹共齐一堂 为知识我们努力为理想我们共结 共朝目标迈进贯彻德智体群 培养健全身心服务国家努力学习 为光明前程奋斗愿华中大业千古 康壮又坚强犹太松柏长青 日月炫耀永恒

Notable alumni

* Ms. Olivia Lum, founder of Hyflux
* Sharon Au (欧菁仙), actress-host of MediaCorp Singapore, currently pursuing higher education in Japan.
* Liang Wenfu (梁文福), composer of xinyao (songs that reflect life in Singapore)
* Warren Fernandez, editor of the Foreign section in The Straits Times
* Ng Hui (黄慧), Actress of MediaCorp Singapore
* Alan Tern (唐育书), Actor of MediaCorp Singapore
* Lim Peifen (林佩芬), Y.E.S. 93.3 FM radio DJ
* Mr Brown (born Lee Kin Mun, 李健敏), Singaporean Blogger
* Baey Yam Keng (马炎庆), PAP Politician, Member of Parliament
* Grace Fu (傅海燕), PAP Politician, Member of Parliament
* Lieutenant-General Ng Yat Chung, Chief of Defence Force Singapore (2003-2007)

External links

* [http://www.hwachong.edu.sg School webpage]
* [http://alumni.hjc.edu.sg Hwa Chong Junior College Alumni]
* [http://www.sgwiki.com/wiki/HWA_CHONG_JUNIOR_COLLEGE Hwa Chong Junior College in Sgwiki]
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HwaChongOnLine Hwa Chong On Line] - currently the largest on the internet, it was founded on the 30 November 1998. Suggested and started by an alumnus, this mother site is to date the most active and original online. Both sites were started and maintained on the sole basis of connecting fellow students and alumni with its originating idea from the same moderator and owner.
* [http://groups-beta.google.com/group/hwachongonline The direct secondary site of Hwa Chong On Line Site at yahoogroups] at Google Groups.