Ai Tong School
Encyclopedia
Ai Tong School is a primary school located in Bishan
, Singapore
. It is one of the five affiliated primary schools under the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan
. The name 爱同 is derived from 博爱 and 大同 which means 'Love for all mankind' and 'Equality/Harmony' respectively.
an Chinese
primary school founded by education
al philanthropist
, Tan Kah Kee
, in 1912. The school was one of five primary and secondary
Chinese schools that were founded by Tan in Singapore
.
As a Chinese-medium school, Ai Tong emphasizes strongly on the learning of Chinese culture, language and values.
In 1957, the private school
became a government-aided school, and started teaching English
as the first language and Chinese as the second language from 1984 onwards.
Housed at the Methodist Church, Boon Tat Street
, in its early days, the school shifted its premises three times, and is now located at 100, Bright Hill Drive.
Bishan
Bishan is a neighbourhood of the city-state of Singapore situated in the Central Region, measuring approximately three by three kilometres. Primarily a housing estate, Flats here are generally more expensive compared to other estates due to its location in the central region, which commands a...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. It is one of the five affiliated primary schools under the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan
Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan
Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan is a cultural and educational foundation. It was established in 1840 to promote education, social welfare and the preservation of the Chinese language and culture among immigrants of Chinese descent in Singapore and throughout Southeast Asia.-Educational...
. The name 爱同 is derived from 博爱 and 大同 which means 'Love for all mankind' and 'Equality/Harmony' respectively.
Motto
"Sincerity and Perseverance", meaning "Be sincere with all people. Be persevering in all endeavours."Logo
The school logo resembles a flying wheel. The sign gives the school its name, Ai Tong School. The pair of wings symbolises the school soaring into greater heights, seeking higher aspirations and excellence. The circles symbolise the cohesive spirit of the teachers and pupils working together towards a common goal.History
The school started as a private SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
an Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
primary school founded by education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
al philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, Tan Kah Kee
Tan Kah Kee
Tan Kah Kee was a prominent businessman, community leader, and philanthropist in colonial Singapore, and a Communist leader in the People's Republic of China.- Early years :...
, in 1912. The school was one of five primary and secondary
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
Chinese schools that were founded by Tan in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
As a Chinese-medium school, Ai Tong emphasizes strongly on the learning of Chinese culture, language and values.
In 1957, the private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
became a government-aided school, and started teaching English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as the first language and Chinese as the second language from 1984 onwards.
Housed at the Methodist Church, Boon Tat Street
Boon Tat Street
Boon Tat Street is a street in Singapore within the Downtown Core and Outram Planning Area of the Central Area. The street extends from Amoy Street at its western end to the junction of Shenton Way and Raffles Quay....
, in its early days, the school shifted its premises three times, and is now located at 100, Bright Hill Drive.
Timeline
- 1912: Ai Tong School was established at Methodist Church, Boon Tat StreetBoon Tat StreetBoon Tat Street is a street in Singapore within the Downtown Core and Outram Planning Area of the Central Area. The street extends from Amoy Street at its western end to the junction of Shenton Way and Raffles Quay....
with 30 pupils. - 1917: The school was re-sited at 209, Telok Ayer Street.
- 1929: The Singapore Hokkien Huay KuanSingapore Hokkien Huay KuanSingapore Hokkien Huay Kuan is a cultural and educational foundation. It was established in 1840 to promote education, social welfare and the preservation of the Chinese language and culture among immigrants of Chinese descent in Singapore and throughout Southeast Asia.-Educational...
took over the autonomy of the school. - 1946: The school rented the premises of the old Gan Eng Seng SchoolGan Eng Seng SchoolFounded by philanthropist Gan Eng Seng in 1885, Gan Eng Seng School is one of the oldest schools in Singapore. GESS was the first school to be set up by a local Chinese and the first to form a parent-teachers' association in 1950. It was an all-boys' school for 102 years until it became...
to start a branch school. Enrolment increased to more than 1,600. - 1956: The main school moved to the Hokkien Huay Kuan Building at 137, Telok Ayer Street.
- 1957: The school became a government-aided school.
- 1961: The total enrolment of the main and branch school reached approximately 2,360.
- 1978: Construction work for a new school building began at Ang Mo KioAng Mo KioAng Mo Kio（宏茂桥） is a heartland new town located in north central Singapore, and is generally within the North-East Region. It contains many of the common features of the island nation's neighbourhoods, e.g. hawker centres, wet markets and HDB housing blocks. Singapore's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien...
, Ave 3. - 1979: 887 pupils had their classes at Mayflower Primary School and Ang Mo Kio Primary School.
- 1980: The 887 pupils moved to the new school building. Total enrolment, including the new intake, was 2,025. The school functioned as an integrated school.
- 1981: The new school building was officially declared open by the Parliamentary Secretary (Education), Ho Kah Leong, on October 9, 1981.
- 1984: All pupils took English as the first language, and Chinese as the second language.
- 1990: The school became a "SAPSpecial Assistance PlanThe Special Assistance Plan is a programme in Singapore which caters to academically strong students who excel in both their mother tongue as well as English. It is only available in selected secondary schools. In a SAP school, several subjects may be taught in the mother tongue, alongside other...
school. The pupils took English and Chinese as their first language. - 1992: The school was relocated to 100, Bright Hill Drive, Singapore 579649, on July 9, 1992.
- 1993: The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Wong Kan SengWong Kan SengWong Kan Seng is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he served as the country's Deputy Prime Minister from 2005 to 2011...
, officiated at the relocation ceremony on July 9. - 1998: The extension block housing special rooms was completed.
- 2000: The extension block was officially opened by Wee Cho YawWee Cho YawMr Wee Cho Yaw , is the incumbent Chairman of the United Overseas Bank Group .Wee Cho Yaw joined the Board of Directors of the then United Chinese Bank in 1958...
, the chairman of the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan. - 2002: Ng Keng Song took over as Principal.
- 2004: The Programme for Rebuilding and IMproving Existing schoolsProgramme For Rebuilding and IMproving Existing schoolsProgramme for Rebuilding and IMproving Existing schools is a programme initiated by the Ministry of Education in 1999 to upgrade and rebuild school buildings in Singapore.-Flexible School Infrastructure :...
(PRIME) was completed. - 2002: The school started on-site PRIME on November 2002.
- 2010: Mr Tan Yap Kin, former Vice-Principal of Tampines Primary School, took over as Principal of Ai Tong School.