Singapore Chinese Girls' School

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Singapore Chinese Girls' School (SCGS)
SCGS Badge
Sincerity, Courage, Generosity, Service
Location
190 Dunearn Road
Information
Type Independent
Established 1899
Founders Sir Song Ong Siang
Dr Lim Boon Keng
Session Single
School code 7014 (Secondary)
5026 (Primary)
Principal Eugenia Lim (Mrs.)
Enrolment Approx. 2,400
Colour(s) Jade & Gold
Affiliations Eunoia Junior College
Website www.scgs.edu.sg

Singapore Chinese Girls' School (Abbreviation: SCGS) is an independent, all-girls school in Singapore. It was consistently ranked as one of the top secondary schools in Singapore in the now-defunct official school rankings released by the Ministry of Education. It is one of the oldest schools in the nation, having been founded in 1899. It is a full school with both primary and secondary divisions, admitting girls between the ages of 6 and 16. The secondary division was among the first schools in Singapore to be accorded the status of an independent school in 1989.

In 2011, SCGS was presented the School Excellence Award, a pinnacle award under the MOE Masterplan of Awards, which recognizes schools for excellence in both education methods and results. In addition, SCGS received the Best Practice Award for all three categories (Student All-Round Development, Teaching and Learning and Staff Well-being) and the Outstanding Development Award for National Education. These achievements affirm the school’s holistic education for the pupils and the capacity and commitment of the staff.[1]

History

SCGS was founded as an all-girls Peranakan school in July 1899 by a group of Straits Chinese men including Dr Lim Boon Keng and Sir Song Ong Siang, at premises in Hill Street, with an English headmistress and seven girls on the register.[2]

In 1923, the school left its premises at Hill Street (the site later became the Central Fire Station) and moved to Emerald Hill. The premise on Emerald Hill cost $60,000. It was a two-storey block with 12 classrooms, an assembly hall, a staff room, and principal’s office. In 1997, the premise on Emerald Hill was declared a significant historical site by the National Heritage Board, three years after SCGS had moved to a bigger campus on Dunearn Road.

From 1905 to 1936, the school admitted a handful of male students, but afterwards reverted to being an all-girls school. In 1946, after the Japanese Invasion in the Second World War, girls of all races were accepted into the school. By 1950, the school had 700 girls. By 1952, the number had risen to close to 900.

In 1971, the students sat for the first Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education or GCE ‘O’ Levels. Everyone passed, giving SCGS a 100% record. In 1989, SCGS celebrated her 90th birthday and also became an independent school, with more latitude to expand the curriculum. On 4 July 1994, after 70 years at Emerald Hill, the school moved to a newly built campus at Dunearn Road.

Crest

The colours of the school crest are jade and gold.

This reflects her time-honoured tradition, because jade and gold in Hokkien (Kim Gek) and in Mandarin (JinYu) connotes a young Chinese girl brought up and educated in the best manner. In today’s educational, social and cultural context, such traditional values remain as steadfast and meaningful as ever.

The school motto is Sincerity, Courage, Generosity and Service.

The Yin and yang aspects of the traditional Chinese symbol of balance are in jade and gold respectively. This symbol, which represents the universe, light, darkness, life and death, lies at the heart of the many branches of classical Chinese sciences, philosophy and medicine.[3]

Notable alumni

Politics & Government

Corporate

Medicine

  • Dr Susan Lim: Prominent surgeon and medical researcher

Social

Entertainment and The Arts

See also

References

  1. ↑ [1]
  2. ↑ [2]
  3. ↑ [3]
  4. ↑ Mdm Halimah Yacob's Profile
  5. ↑ Professor Thio's Profile
  6. ↑ Ms Janice Koh's Profile
  7. ↑ National Council of Social Services: Organisational Structure
  8. ↑ An Interview with the Former President & CEO of Raffles Holdings
  9. ↑ Singapore International Foundation Board

External links

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