Qihua Primary School
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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.
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[edit] 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 as well as money towards the school's construction. It was decided to build three schools at different locations 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. The three schools have been run by three individual principals from 1966.
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.
[edit] 1988 to the 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 Panjang on November 15, 1990. In 1995, as enrollment rapidly increased, it became a double-session school, allowing for one set of students to have classes in the mornings and another in the afternoons.
The Programme for Rebuilding and Improving Existing schools (PRIME) was implemented in 1999 to upgrade the school's facilities and accommodate increasing enrolment. Some improved features include an increased number of computer laboratories, a second science laboratory for life sciences, a double-story multi-media resource library, a gymnasium, a clay-art studio, better-equipped music rooms and larger staff room and a general office. The facade has been greatly enhanced with the building of a lobby and landscaped gardens. A new block, with more spacious and brighter classrooms also has been added to provide pupils with a more conducive learning environment.
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 aesthetics. Another innovative addition was the Thinker's Sphere. The Thinker's 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 include floor games and other learning stations such as the Science Exploria, Earth Care Corner, the Green Corner and the Health Gateway.
