Ai Tong Primary School
From Freepedia
Ai Tong School was a private Singaporean Chinese primary school that was founded by educational philanthropist, Tan Kah Kee, in 1912. The school was one of five primary and secondary Chinese schools that were founded by Tan in Singapore.
As a Chinese-medium school, Ai Tong emphasizes strongly on the learning of Chinese culture, language and values. Adopting the motto of "Sincerity & Perseverance", pupils are taught to acquire the virtuous qualities of sincerity in attitude and perseverance in work and study.
In 1957, the private school became a government-aided school, and started teaching English as the first language and Chinese as the second language from 1984 onwards.
Housed at the Methodist Church, Boon Tat Street, in its early days, the school shifted its premises three times, and is now located at 100, Bright Hill Drive.
Timeline
- 1912: Ai Tong School was established at Methodist Church, Boon Tat Street with 30 pupils.
- 1917: The school was re-sited at 209, Telok Ayer Street.
- 1929: The Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan took over the autonomy of the school.
- 1946: The school rented the premises of the old Gan Eng Seng School to start a branch school. Enrolment increased to more than 1,600.
- 1956: The main school moved to the Hokkien Huay Kuan Building at 137, Telok Ayer Street.
- 1957: The school became a government-aided school.
- 1961: The total enrolment of the main and branch school reached approximately 2,360, the highest ever achieved.
- 1978: Construction work for a new school building commenced at Ang Mo Kio, Ave 3.
- 1979: 887 pupils had their classes at Mayflower Primary School and Ang Mo Kio Primary School.
- 1980: The 887 pupils moved to the new school building. Total enrolment, including the new intake, was 2,025.
- 1981: The new school building was officially declared open by the Parliamentary Secretary (Education), Mr. Ho Kah Leong, on October 9.
- 1984: All pupils took English as the first language, and Chinese as the second language.
- 1989: The school became an "SAP" government-aided school. Pupils took English and Chinese as the first language.
- 1992: The school was relocated to 100, Bright Hill Drive on July 8.
- 1993: The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Wong Kan Seng, officiated at the relocation ceremony on July 9.
- 1998: The extension block housing special rooms was completed.
- 2000: The extension block was officially opened by Wee Cho Yaw, the chairman of the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan.
- 2004: The "Programme for Rebuilding and Improving Existing Schools" (PRIME) was completed.
