Ong Teck Chin
Encyclopedia
Ong Teck Chin (born 1949) is a Singaporean educator.
He was formerly the Principal/CEO of Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
, and resident warden of its boarding school
.
and graduated from the National University of Singapore
in 1972 with an Honours degree in Chemistry. He went on to earn his D.Phil in Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Oxford
in 1975 under a Rhodes Scholarship
. On his subsequent return to Singapore, he became a Physiology lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine at the National University of Singapore
until 1991. While lecturing in the NUS, he concurrently held the position of Vice-Principal in ACS(I) from 1988 until 1994, when he was appointed Principal.
Ong has also published papers in international journals on exercise physiology, sports ergonomics and fitness assessments as well as research papers on education. During his reservist days in the Singapore Armed Forces
, he received a Merit Award for his essay Discipline and Control in the Military, submitted for the 1989 Chief of General Staff Annual Essay Competition.
In addition, Ong was the chairman of the now-defunct Broadcast, Publications & Arts Appeal Advisory Committee (BPAAC), one of the committees that advised the Government of Singapore
on censorship issues. He was also an executive committee member of the now-defunct Singapore Centre for Teaching Thinking, established in 1998 at the National Institute of Education
, as part of the Thinking Schools Learning Nation initiative launched by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong
in 1997. Ong is recognised as a Solemniser of Marriages by the Registry of Marriages, Singapore.
Ong has also been the recipient of many awards, including:
Ong is an executive elder and member of the Bethesda (Frankel Estate) Church, a Brethren
assembly, at 4 La Salle Street in Siglap, an area in the southeast of Singapore
.
in 1994 when his predecessor, Associate Professor Lawrence Chia, stepped down after six years. Ong's appointment was initially controversial, as he was a former student of Raffles Institution
, a rival school.
During his tenure as principal, ACS(I) gained the Singapore Quality Award and the Singapore Quality Class in recognition of administrative and educational excellence. Singapore Quality Class (SQC) is the certification for the overall business excellence standard, and the Singapore Quality Award (SQA) is conferred on organisations that demonstrate the highest standards of business excellence. The school received many other awards, such as the School Excellence Award (an award for academic excellence), the School Distinction Award, the Best Practice Awards and many awards at the Odyssey of the Mind
(OM) World Finals. Ong also serves as the Odyssey of the Mind Singapore Tournament Director.
Ong was initially the Vice-Principal for Pastoral Care in the school. This is currently a core component of the school's curriculum. Ong introduced the practice of naming classes after biblical heroes, books or cities in 1997, as well as the practice of dedicating each academic year to an inspirational theme from the Bible.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme was introduced during his tenure. The school was the first in the Singapore education system to implement the programme. This was a significant step in the reform of Singaporean education system, which had been cited by critics as being too harsh and rigid in its regimen, not to mention its examination-centric approach towards achieving academic excellence.
Ong maintained the school's reputation for strict discipline. He has said:
The Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) publicity material for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme additionally emphasises that IB students guilty of serious violations of academic dishonesty
, if male, may be caned.
.
It was implied that he stepped down for health reasons. However, his resignation came shortly after allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a male teacher, Mark Richie Tan had been made about him to the ACS Board of Governors. An inquiry committee was formed, comprising members from both the Anglo-Chinese School Board of Governors and the Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) Board of Management.
Mark Richie Tan made statements to The New Paper
stating that he filed the complaint because he "wanted justice to be served" and that there were "possibly a few people" involved in this matter. According to a report in The Straits Times
, "Mr Tan told The Straits Times that he had e-mail, text messages and recordings to prove his claims of Dr Ong's inappropriate behaviour."
The panel convened found that these allegations were reinforced by their findings: "Dr. Ong Teck Chin has conducted himself in an inappropriate manner and that his conduct has fallen short of the standards expected of a principal". The Board did not state the nature of the allegations.
In a press statement on 22 November 2010, the ACS Board of Governors and the ACS(I) Board of Management said that Ong deeply regretted his actions and had apologised. His last official day of work was 30 November 2010.
to correct coronary disease
, after tests that indicated serious blockages of his coronary arteries.
He was formerly the Principal/CEO of Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
The Anglo-Chinese School is a Methodist secondary school in Singapore. It is a descendant of a school established in 1886 by Rev William Fitzjames Oldham at 70 Amoy Street, Singapore, and one of a group of educational institutions collectively known as the Anglo-Chinese School...
, and resident warden of its boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
.
Background
Ong is an alumnus of Raffles InstitutionRaffles Institution
Raffles Institution , founded in 1823, is the oldest centre for pre-tertiary learning in Singapore. It is an independent school in Singapore providing secondary and pre-university education. RI consists of a boys-only secondary section , and a coeducational pre-university section...
and graduated from the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
in 1972 with an Honours degree in Chemistry. He went on to earn his D.Phil in Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1975 under a Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
. On his subsequent return to Singapore, he became a Physiology lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine at the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
until 1991. While lecturing in the NUS, he concurrently held the position of Vice-Principal in ACS(I) from 1988 until 1994, when he was appointed Principal.
Ong has also published papers in international journals on exercise physiology, sports ergonomics and fitness assessments as well as research papers on education. During his reservist days in the Singapore Armed Forces
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
, he received a Merit Award for his essay Discipline and Control in the Military, submitted for the 1989 Chief of General Staff Annual Essay Competition.
In addition, Ong was the chairman of the now-defunct Broadcast, Publications & Arts Appeal Advisory Committee (BPAAC), one of the committees that advised the Government of Singapore
Government of Singapore
The Government of Singapore is defined by the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore to mean the Executive branch of government, which is made up of the President and the Cabinet of Singapore. Although the President acts in his personal discretion in the exercise of certain functions as a check...
on censorship issues. He was also an executive committee member of the now-defunct Singapore Centre for Teaching Thinking, established in 1998 at the National Institute of Education
National Institute of Education
The is an institute of the , Singapore.NIE, Singapore, provides all levels of teacher education, from programmes to for in-service teachers and executive for Principals, Departmental Heads and other school leaders. NIE also administers postgraduate programmes that lead to the award of in...
, as part of the Thinking Schools Learning Nation initiative launched by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong is the Senior Minister of Singapore and the chairman of the central bank of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He also served as the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 28 November 1990 to 12 August 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime...
in 1997. Ong is recognised as a Solemniser of Marriages by the Registry of Marriages, Singapore.
Ong has also been the recipient of many awards, including:
- The SAF Sword-of-Honour
- The Outstanding Young Person of Singapore (Silver) Jaycees International Award in 1975
- The National Day Commendation Medal (Military) in 1994 in recognition of his contributions to the Singapore Armed ForcesSingapore Armed ForcesThe Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
(SAF) - The National Institute of Education Dr Ruth Wong Gold Medal for the Diploma in Education Administration(Secondary)
- The Public Administration Medal (Silver), awarded during National Day 1997
Ong is an executive elder and member of the Bethesda (Frankel Estate) Church, a Brethren
Brethren
Brethren is a name adopted by several Protestant Christian bodies which do not necessarily share historical roots. As classified in The Pilgrim Church by EH Broadbent, the earliest primitive churches to Paulician Brethren, to Bogomil Brethren, to Anabaptist and to Moravian Brethren were historical...
assembly, at 4 La Salle Street in Siglap, an area in the southeast of 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...
.
Appointment as Principal
Ong was appointed Principal of Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
The Anglo-Chinese School is a Methodist secondary school in Singapore. It is a descendant of a school established in 1886 by Rev William Fitzjames Oldham at 70 Amoy Street, Singapore, and one of a group of educational institutions collectively known as the Anglo-Chinese School...
in 1994 when his predecessor, Associate Professor Lawrence Chia, stepped down after six years. Ong's appointment was initially controversial, as he was a former student of Raffles Institution
Raffles Institution
Raffles Institution , founded in 1823, is the oldest centre for pre-tertiary learning in Singapore. It is an independent school in Singapore providing secondary and pre-university education. RI consists of a boys-only secondary section , and a coeducational pre-university section...
, a rival school.
During his tenure as principal, ACS(I) gained the Singapore Quality Award and the Singapore Quality Class in recognition of administrative and educational excellence. Singapore Quality Class (SQC) is the certification for the overall business excellence standard, and the Singapore Quality Award (SQA) is conferred on organisations that demonstrate the highest standards of business excellence. The school received many other awards, such as the School Excellence Award (an award for academic excellence), the School Distinction Award, the Best Practice Awards and many awards at the Odyssey of the Mind
Odyssey of the Mind
Odyssey of the Mind, often called OM , is a creative problem-solving competition involving students from kindergarten through college. Team members work together at length to solve a predefined problem ; and present their solution to the problem at a competition...
(OM) World Finals. Ong also serves as the Odyssey of the Mind Singapore Tournament Director.
Ong was initially the Vice-Principal for Pastoral Care in the school. This is currently a core component of the school's curriculum. Ong introduced the practice of naming classes after biblical heroes, books or cities in 1997, as well as the practice of dedicating each academic year to an inspirational theme from the Bible.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme was introduced during his tenure. The school was the first in the Singapore education system to implement the programme. This was a significant step in the reform of Singaporean education system, which had been cited by critics as being too harsh and rigid in its regimen, not to mention its examination-centric approach towards achieving academic excellence.
Ong maintained the school's reputation for strict discipline. He has said:
"We have corporal punishment for serious offences. If parents disagree, then they should not have put their child in this school".
The Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) publicity material for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme additionally emphasises that IB students guilty of serious violations of academic dishonesty
Academic dishonesty
Academic dishonesty or academic misconduct is any type of cheating that occurs in relation to a formal academic exercise. It can include* Plagiarism: The adoption or reproduction of original creations of another author without due acknowledgment.* Fabrication: The...
, if male, may be caned.
Controversy
On 4 October 2010, Ong announced his resignation as Principal/CEO of Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
The Anglo-Chinese School is a Methodist secondary school in Singapore. It is a descendant of a school established in 1886 by Rev William Fitzjames Oldham at 70 Amoy Street, Singapore, and one of a group of educational institutions collectively known as the Anglo-Chinese School...
.
It was implied that he stepped down for health reasons. However, his resignation came shortly after allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a male teacher, Mark Richie Tan had been made about him to the ACS Board of Governors. An inquiry committee was formed, comprising members from both the Anglo-Chinese School Board of Governors and the Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) Board of Management.
Mark Richie Tan made statements to The New Paper
The New Paper
The New Paper is Singapore's second-highest circulating paid English-language newspaper, first launched on July 26, 1988, by Singapore Press Holdings . According to SPH, its average daily circulation for August 2010 was 101600....
stating that he filed the complaint because he "wanted justice to be served" and that there were "possibly a few people" involved in this matter. According to a report in The Straits Times
The Straits Times
The Straits Times is an English language daily broadsheet newspaper based in Singapore currently owned by Singapore Press Holdings . It is the country's highest-selling paper, with a current daily circulation of nearly 400,000...
, "Mr Tan told The Straits Times that he had e-mail, text messages and recordings to prove his claims of Dr Ong's inappropriate behaviour."
The panel convened found that these allegations were reinforced by their findings: "Dr. Ong Teck Chin has conducted himself in an inappropriate manner and that his conduct has fallen short of the standards expected of a principal". The Board did not state the nature of the allegations.
In a press statement on 22 November 2010, the ACS Board of Governors and the ACS(I) Board of Management said that Ong deeply regretted his actions and had apologised. His last official day of work was 30 November 2010.
Health
In April 2008, Ong underwent major open heart surgeryOpen Heart Surgery
Open Heart Surgery was released on August 8, 2000 by rock band Virginwool. The band signed to Breaking/Atlantic Records after initially beginning signed to Universal Records. The album was produced and mixed by Brad Wood....
to correct coronary disease
Coronary disease
Coronary disease refers to the failure of coronary circulation to supply adequate circulation to cardiac muscle and surrounding tissue. It is already the most common form of disease affecting the heart and an important cause of premature death in Europe, the Baltic states, Russia, North and South...
, after tests that indicated serious blockages of his coronary arteries.