Founded in 1917, Nan Hua High School is the tenth Special Assistance Plan (SAP) school in Singapore, and is an autonomous school since 2001.[3][4] The school is also the West Zone Centre of Excellence for Chinese Language and Culture.[5] Nan Hua High School is not affiliated with Nan Hua Primary School, despite a shared heritage.[6]
History
Nan Hua Girls' School (1917–1955)
Nan Hwa Girls' School (Main) at Adis Road
Nan Hua High School was founded on 14 June 1917 as Nam Wah Girls' School (simplified Chinese: 南华女学校; traditional Chinese: 南華女學校), by Xiong Shangfu, an overseas Chinese industrialist and prominent figure in the local Cantonese community.[7] The school was established with the aim to give girls in Singapore the opportunity of receiving an education which was a privilege few girls had at that time.[8] It was first founded in a makeshift school with two rented shop-houses converted into four classrooms in Coleman Street.[8] From a cohort of fewer than 100 Chinese girls, the student population grew rapidly and in 1921, the school moved to a new building in Bencoolen Street to accommodate its expansion. However, in 1924, the school was forced to close temporarily due to financial difficulties. After a series of public appeals, contributions of funds from the community helped pay off the school's debts, and the school re-opened.[9]
By 1928, the Basic Teacher Training Programme had started and the student population continued to grow, leading to space constraints. In 1931, a new school building at Adis Road was ready and it became the "Main School" that ran normal training classes for teachers alongside primary classes. The old building at Bencoolen Street continued to function as a branch school offering primary classes. In 1941, Nan Hwa Girls' School was forced to cease operations as a Japanese invasion drew near. The school complex at Adis Road was turned into the headquarters for the Imperial Japanese Army shortly after the surrender of the British colonial forces.[3]
The school re-opened in October 1945 after the return of the Allied forces. The School Management Committee (SMC) set out to raise funds to rebuild the school and enrol students. Due to the overwhelming financial support of many parents, secondary classes were set up and the school's enrolment rose to 700 pupils.
Nan Hwa Girls' High School (1956–1984)
Nan Hwa Girls' School (Branch) at Bencoleen Street
The school's name was changed to Nan Hwa Girls' High School (simplified Chinese: 南华女子中学校; traditional Chinese: 南華女子中學校), in December 1956. During this period, the curriculum underwent much restructuring and the school emerged as one of the premier girls' schools in Singapore. The branch school was separated from the main school to function as a primary school, with its name changed to Nan Hwa Girls' Primary School (current Nan Hua Primary School).[8] The Main School became a secondary school after it terminated the intake of primary pupils in 1964.[3]
Restructuring as a government school (1984–2000)
Former Nan Hua Secondary School campus from 1982 to 2003
On 12 December 1982, Nan Hwa Girls' High School moved from Adis Road to Clementi Avenue 1 on the recommendation of the Ministry of Education (MOE). The school began to admit Secondary One boys and thus became coeducational in 1984. The school was also renamed Nan Hua Secondary School, dropping the word "girls" in its name to reflect the change.
On 1 April 1986, the School Management Committee was dissolved and the school administration was handed over to the Ministry of Education, while the School Advisory Committee was formed to represent the interest of the school. This signified the change of the school from a Chinese medium school to an integrated secondary school utilising English as the medium of instruction.[10] The move also ended the school's long-standing status as an aided school.[3]
Attainment of SAP status (2000–present)
Former Nan Hua Secondary School in 2004.
In the new millennium, Nan Hua Secondary School was accorded as the 10th Special Assistance Plan school. Under the Programme for Rebuilding and Improving Existing Schools (PRIME), the school relocated to a new campus at 41 Clementi Avenue 1 on 20 December 2003. The former premises was occupied by the NUS High School of Math and Science. The school subsequently attained the School of Distinction Award and Singapore Quality Class Award in 2005. The new school building was officially opened by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 17 July 2005 when he declared Nan Hua Secondary School achieving its Autonomous Status in 2006. The school's name was changed to Nan Hua High School from 1 January 2006.[3]
In 2010, Nan Hua High School received the President's Award for the Environment, the highest environment accolade for organisations and companies in Singapore.[11] In 2017, Nan Hua High celebrated its 100th anniversary with a series of activities and celebrations throughout the year, culminating in the 100th Anniversary Dinner held on 15 July 2017.[12]
Principals
Name of Principal
Native Name
Years Served
Mdm Wu Mulan
吴木兰女士
1917
Mdm He Yingting
贺英廷女士
1918
Mdm Wang Zuyun
王祖蕴女士
1919 - 1920
Mdm Shi Lei
石磊女士
1921 - 1923
Mdm Cheng Xingjin
程幸今女士
1924 - 1927
Mdm Yao Chuying
姚楚英女士
1928 - 1929
Mdm Wu Yunwen
吴允文女士
1930
Mdm Yao Chuying
姚楚英女士
1931 - 1932
Mdm Li Cailiang
李才梁女士
1933 - 1935
Mdm Deng Zhicheng
邓志诚女士
1936
Mdm Lu Lanying
陆兰英女士
1937 - 1938
Mdm Yao Chuying
姚楚英女士
1939 - 1940
Mdm Feng Yimei
冯伊媚女士
1941
Closure of School During Japanese Occupation
日治时期学校停办
1941 - 1945
Mdm Yang Shui Chor
杨瑞初女士
1945 - 1971
Mdm Tsao Yu Hang
曹玉航女士
1972 - 1983
Mdm Yap Siew Keng
叶秀琼女士
1984 - 1986
Ms Ching Ah Kim
郑亚锦女士
1986 - 1988
Mrs Koh Sou Keaw
陈素娇女士
1989 - 1991
Mrs Leong Kum Hoong
林慧莲女士
1991 - 1994
Ms Winnie Tan Swee Ling
陈瑞玲女士
1994 - 1998
Mr Loh Leong Beng
骆良明先生
1999 - 2003
Dr Foo Suan Fong
符传丰博士
2003 - 2009
Mrs Tan Jong Lek
洪葆女士
2009 - 2022
Mr Chiew Jing Wen
周景文先生
2023 - NIL
School identity and culture
School crest
Nan Hua High School crest
The white colour of the school crest embodies purity in thought, word and deed. The blue signifies essential qualities of good character, namely sincerity and integrity. The three corners of the triangle, a distinct feature for many Chinese schools, represents the moral, intellectual and physical developments of students.[13] The widely opened book featured in the crest symbolises the school's virtue in education.[14]
School song
The school song is made up of two verses, one in English and one in Mandarin Chinese.[15] In every rendition of the school song, both verses are sung, with the English verse coming first, followed by the Mandarin verse. The verse in English are written by Miss Ho Lai Lin, and the song was moderated by Chin Wai Fah.[16] Nan Hua High School and Nan Hua Primary School have similar school songs, due to the shared heritage of both schools.[17]
Attire and appearance
Assembly session in Nan Hua High School. Notice the plaits sported by all the female students
The school uniform is a white shirt with two metal buttons at the shoulder, with the Traditional Chinese characters of the school name on it. Boys wear shirts with two front pockets at the chest fastened with two metal buttons, and it is also known as a studded shirt in the school's official website. Both shirts for boys and girls feature two shoulder flaps on each side, a unique feature of traditional Chinese schools. Traditional Chinese schools award ranks to students according to their achievement and seniority, and these shoulder flaps are used to hold epaulets denoting their ranks, much like military uniforms. Traditional Chinese schools have since abolished this system, and the shoulder flaps serve no major purpose. However, it is still retained as it symbolises Nan Hua's roots as a traditional Chinese school.[15]
Girls with long hair have to tie their hair into two scorpions or French plaits. A rarity among most Singapore schools, the plaits are a unique part of Nan Hua's culture and is often associated with the school itself.[18]
Campus
Nan Hua High School's present campus at 41 Clementi Avenue 1
Nan Hua High School's current campus lies on 292,710 square feet (27,194 m2) of hill land at 41 Clementi Avenue 1.[19] It consists of an admin & aesthetics block, a science block, a canteen & hall block, three classroom blocks, a foyer, an indoor sports hall, a parade square, an eco-garden and a field.
The administration & aesthetics block mainly houses the general office, staff room and dedicated rooms and studios for the Performing Arts CCAs. A sky garden, a classroom based on an "open classroom" concept on the 5th floor of the same block was opened by then Minister for Education, Tharman Shanmugaratnam on 25 April 2007. The sky garden was the culmination of a variety of proposals put forth by students after a challenge issued to them by then Principal Dr Foo Suan Fong to come up with ideas to transform the space into one which could be used not only for casual meetings, but also for lessons and CCAs.[20] The auditorium, named after the school's top donor, the Yeung Ching Foundation, is also located on the same level as the sky garden.
Campus entrance
Front facade of the Admin & Aesthetics Block
Rear facade of the Admin & Aesthetics Block
Eco-Garden
Statue of Confucius at the car porch
Science Block, with the Parade Square in the foreground
View of Nan Hua High School from Clementi Road
Academic information
O Level express course
Nan Hua High School offers the four-year Express course which leads up to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level national examination. To build cross-cultural capabilities in a multi-racial society, Nan Hua also offers promising students the opportunity to study Malay under the Malay Special Programme (MSP).[21]
Academic subjects
The examinable academic subjects for Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level offered by Nan Hua High School for Upper Secondary level (via. streaming in Secondary 2 level), as of 2017, are listed below.
Notes:
Subjects indicated with ' * ' are mandatory subjects.
All students in Singapore are required to undertake a Mother Tongue Language as an examinable subject, as indicated by ' ^ '.
"SPA" in Pure Science subjects refers to the incorporation of School-based Science Practical Assessment, which 20% of the subject result in the national examination are determined by school-based practical examinations, supervised by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board. The SPA Assessment has been replaced by one Practical Assessment in the 2018 O Levels.
Science
Additional Mathematics*
Mathematics*
Physics (SPA)
Chemistry (SPA)*
Biology (SPA)
Language & Literature
English Language*
Literature in English
Chinese Language* ^
Higher Chinese Language
Literature in Chinese
Malay (Special Programme)
Humanities
Geography
History
Combined Humanities (Social Studies & History Elective/Geography Elective)*
Arts & Aesthetics
Higher Art
Design & Technology
Food & Consumer Education
SAP Flagship Programme
The SAP Flagship Programme (a programme offered at SAP schools) at Nan Hua High School is revolves around Chinese Culture and Bi-cultural Studies. Being the only SAP high school directly under the government, the programme is fully governed under the Ministry of Education, as opposed to independent and government-aided schools.[22]
The flagship programme comprises two elements and five key components. The elements of classical thoughts and culture is brought forth through appreciation of Chinese Culture as well as Confucianism ideals. The programme also covers life-skills such as translation.
Alumni
Nan Hua High School Alumni Association
Nan Hua Secondary School Alumni Association was established in 1998.03.08, as a platform to reconnect alumni and preserve the school spirit of Nan Hua big family. The alumni body is made up of two wings, the main wing and the youth wing. The name of the association was renamed to Nan Hua High School Alumni Association. [23]
^Zhuang, Justin (2013). Singapore School Crests – The Stories Behind the Symbols(PDF). Singapore: National Library Board. p. 21. ISBN978-981-07-6524-8. Archived(PDF) from the original on 13 May 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2016. While the crest's shape signified the three-way link between the school's board members, teachers and students of Chinese High, school crests from Nan Hua High and Chung Cheng High used the triangle to symbolise the moral, physical and intellectual development of their students. Another Chinese school, Nan Chiau High, also sought to express this, but with three interlocking rings instead.
^pg. 3, School Crest, Nan Hua High School Student Handbook 2013
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