Qihua Primary School

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Qihua Primary School is a Singapore government primary school in Woodlands. Qihua is one of the oldest schools in Singapore, with more than sixty-five years of history.

[edit] 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 the land and money towards the building of the school. It was decided to build three schools at different locations to cater to the needs of the villagers: 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 (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 enrolment had increased and the need for more classrooms and facilities was apparent. The three schools had to be run by three individual principals from 1966. In the 1970s, it was decided to rebuild the three schools, to include modern sanitation and up-to-date facilities. 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 19 December 1976. The building, in the form of clusters, included a Canteen, Language Laboratory, Science Room, Library, Music Room and air-conditioned Staff Room and Office. In 1979, the school was among a group of Chinese medium schools selected to start the pre-primary programme to help the pupils to raise their standard of English.

[edit] 1988 to the present

Due to large-scale resettlement of farmers, as the area was set aside for military training purposes, enrolment fell 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 Panjang on 15 November 1990. As enrolment increased rapidly, in 1995 it became a double-session school, allowing for one set of students to have classes in the mornings and another set in the afternoons.

PRIME started in 1999 to upgrade facilities and accommodate the increasing enrolment. Some improved features include the increased number of computer laboratories, a second Science laboratory for Life Sciences, a double-storey multi-media resource library, a gymnasium, a clay-art studio, better-equipped music rooms and a larger staff room and general office. The facade has been greatly enhanced, with the building of the lobby and landscaped gardens. A new block, with more spacious and brighter classrooms that provide pupils with a more conducive learning environment, has also been added.

In 2004, the infrastructure of the school was enhanced by a variety of new augmentations. One of these new additions is the Sculpture Park. The Sculpture Park represents an interactive combination of arts and music. The Musical Hand Sculpture provides the stage for pupils to explore and share their enthusiasm and love for the Aesthetics. Another innovative addition was the Thinker Sphere. The Thinker Sphere fosters innovation and innovative ways of learning through the use of the various Mathematical games, resources and hands-on experiences that are situated there. Other new additions to the school's infrastructure also include the Floor Games and other learning stations such as the Science Exploria, Earth Care Corner, the Green Corner and the Health Gateway.

[edit] External links

• Qihua Primary School