Qihua Primary School
Encyclopedia
Qihua Primary School is a government primary school in Woodlands
, Singapore
. Qihua is one of the oldest schools in Singapore, with more than sixty-five years of history.
Tiew donated land and money towards the school's construction. Three schools were built to cater to villagers' needs: 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. The name Qihua (Kay Wah in Hokkien) was chosen by the first principal, Lim Kim Hoon, to reflect the opening of minds to receive education.
By the 1960s, the enrollment had increased and the need for more classrooms and facilities was apparent. In the 1970s, it was decided to rebuild the three schools, for more modern facilities, including sanitation. Choo Phie Ching, then the principal of Kay Wah Branch I, together with the board of directors, launched a donation drive for the rebuilding of the school. The new building, designed by Mr Thng Hooi Haw, was completed in 1976. Tang See Chim, Deputy Speaker and MP for Chua Chu Kang, officially opened the school on December 19, 1976. The building, designed in the form of clusters, included a cafeteria, a language laboratory, a science room, a library, a music room and an air-conditioned staff room and office. In 1979, the school was among a group of schools using Chinese as the medium of instruction selected to start the pre-primary programme to help the pupils to raise their standard of English.
on November 15, 1990. In 1995, as enrollment rapidly increased, it became a double-session school.
An innovative addition was the Thinker's Sphere. The Thinker's Sphere fosters innovation and innovative ways of learning through the use of mathematical games, resources and hands-on experiences. Otheradditions to the school's infrastructure include floor games and learning stations such as the Science Exploria, Earth Care Corner, the Green Corner and the Health Gateway.
Woodlands, Singapore
Woodlands, or the Woodlands New Town , is a suburban town in northern Singapore, part of the North West Community Development Council district...
, 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...
. Qihua is one of the oldest schools in Singapore, with more than sixty-five years of history.
1938–1988
In 1938, Neo Tiew, the headman of Ama Keng Village and Lim Kim Hoon (a principal from China) sensed the urgent need for schools for children of villagers in Ama Keng. Most of the villagers had little education and depended on farming and small businesses for a living, but they helped to raise funds and donated generously towards the project.Tiew donated land and money towards the school's construction. Three schools were built to cater to villagers' needs: 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. The name Qihua (Kay Wah in Hokkien) was chosen by the first principal, Lim Kim Hoon, to reflect the opening of minds to receive education.
By the 1960s, the enrollment had increased and the need for more classrooms and facilities was apparent. In the 1970s, it was decided to rebuild the three schools, for more modern facilities, including sanitation. Choo Phie Ching, then the principal of Kay Wah Branch I, together with the board of directors, launched a donation drive for the rebuilding of the school. The new building, designed by Mr Thng Hooi Haw, was completed in 1976. Tang See Chim, Deputy Speaker and MP for Chua Chu Kang, officially opened the school on December 19, 1976. The building, designed in the form of clusters, included a cafeteria, a language laboratory, a science room, a library, a music room and an air-conditioned staff room and office. In 1979, the school was among a group of schools using Chinese as the medium of instruction selected to start the pre-primary programme to help the pupils to raise their standard of English.
1988 - present
Enrollment fell at the school when the government decided to resettle a large number of farmers to set aside for military training purposes, and the school was relocated to Woodlands New Town in 1988. It was officially opened by Mr Lee Yiok Seng, Senior Parliamentary Secretary (National Development) and MP for Bukit PanjangBukit Panjang
Bukit Panjang is a suburban area situated in the Central North-Western part of Singapore. The Bukit Panjang Planning Area, located in the West Region, encompasses the Housing Development Board's housing estate of Bukit Panjang New Town and the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.-Etymology:Bukit in the...
on November 15, 1990. In 1995, as enrollment rapidly increased, it became a double-session school.
An innovative addition was the Thinker's Sphere. The Thinker's Sphere fosters innovation and innovative ways of learning through the use of mathematical games, resources and hands-on experiences. Otheradditions to the school's infrastructure include floor games and learning stations such as the Science Exploria, Earth Care Corner, the Green Corner and the Health Gateway.