Our Story

1911

Chung Hwa Girls’ School was opened on 15 September 1911 through the concerted efforts of Mr Tay Peng Teng, Mr Puan Yeow Pang and members of the Chinese community.

The establishment of Chung Hwa Girls’ School was a timely development that took place during an era when the roles and contributions of women in society were being seen in a new light. In heeding Dr Sun Yat Sen’s call for the provision of education for girls in Singapore, these leaders of the Chinese community helped to mark a turning point for women in the Chinese community in Singapore.

Chung Hwa had started out with the modest aim of providing basic primary education for Chinese girls. However, as it evolved and grew in strength and stature, its role expanded to include teacher-training. Eventually, Chung Hwa embraced the mantle of secondary and pre-university education for all.

1925

The original location of Chung Hwa Girls’ School was at Mohamad Sultan Road. It had slightly over ten students at its inception but later to meet the need for larger premises, the school moved to Tank Road.

With the combined efforts of the school and the Board of Directors in fundraising and in its search for a bigger building, the primary school section was shifted to No. 57, Niven Road. With greater interest and support from the community, enrolment grew to more than a hundred in subsequent years.

1930s
to
1940s

Chung Hwa Girls’ School started teacher training courses in the mid-1930s to create a local pool of teachers to meet growing needs. In 1935, Chung Hwa introduced a simplified Normal Training Course, and these cadets graduated in 1941.

In 1942, classes were suspended with the outbreak of World War II and the Japanese Occupation of Singapore.

In 1947, Chung Hwa resumed classes with the reintroduction of two teacher training courses. Teacher cadets also graduated from the first post-war batch of the Normal Training Course.

Many of the graduates stayed on at Chung Hwa or returned to Chung Hwa to teach – a strong testimony of the loyalty and commitment that the school inspired in those who had tread the Chung Hwa path.

1950

In 1950, teacher cadets from the second post-war batch undertaking the simplified Normal Training Course graduated.

The school attempted to sustain its teacher-training classes but these were eventually terminated between 1950 and 1951 when the government set up the Teachers' Training College.

1951

Completed in 1951, the building at Bartley Road, known as the main school, housed the secondary school section named Chung Hwa Girls’ High School. The primary school, known as the sub-school, remained at Niven Road.

1954
to
1958

In 1954, the school became known as Chung Hwa Girls’ Middle School. In place of the training courses, middle school classes were introduced. In 1958, this system was replaced by the four-year secondary school system that remains at the core of secondary education today. In the drive towards nation-building during the post-war era, the quest for higher education was keenly felt. To meet this need, high school classes were introduced in 1954, which was later replaced by the two-year Pre-University system in 1962.

1957

The school became a government-aided school.

1967

Chung Hwa Girls’ High celebrated her 56th Anniversary in 1967. The Guest of Honour was the then Minister for Education, Mr Ong Pang Boon.

1968

Chung Hwa participated in the National Day Parade in 1968. The students’ outstanding display was commended by then Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew as Chung Hwa students demonstrated their commitment, perseverance and team spirit by continuing to perform despite the heavy downpour during the National Day Parade.

1969

In 1969, Mr Ong Pang Boon, then Education Minister, graced the opening of an additional block for the school at the Bartley Road campus.

In a landmark move for curricular development, Chung Hwa became the first girls’ school to introduce technical and home economics education in 1969.

1970s

Towards the late 1970s, the school began to show formidable strength in basketball. It won six championships in one year, twenty-one championships during the period from 1978 to 1985, and produced three national players.

The school also experienced numerous victories in gymnastics championships.

1980

To keep up with times, predominance of English as the language of business and international communication, Chung Hwa introduced English-medium classes. The Chinese-medium classes were eventually phased out in 1987.

1984

Chung Hwa became a full-fledged government and co-educational school and took in male students for the first time in the secondary school’s history.

The school was then renamed Chung Hwa High School.

1987

The school relocated to its new site at Serangoon Avenue 4 in Serangoon New Town with a larger catchment population and a higher potential to be of service to the community. After the move in 1987, the hanyupinyin name of Zhonghua Secondary School was adopted and the logo was modified to reflect the change.

1996

Within a decade of its move to Serangoon Avenue 4, Zhonghua established itself within the neighbourhood as a secondary school of firm standing, where education is a mission and a passion.

In 1996, the school’s track record in continuous improvement in academic results resulted in Zhonghua being awarded autonomous status. With greater autonomy and more funds, the school began offering a wider range of programmes to enrich its pupils and stretch their potential.

2000

Zhonghua began the millennium on a momentous note with its move to a new campus in Serangoon Avenue 3 in 2000. Officially opened on 8 September 2001 to the theme “Inheriting from our past, Nurturing the future”, Zhonghua sought to build upon its traditions, while preparing its students to rise to new challenges in the age of Information Technology.

As Zhonghua eases into the second decade of the 21st century, it continues to provide rigorous, up-to-date and all-rounded education to stretch pupils to their full potential. Our school Vision is ‘Scholars ○ Leaders’, and our Mission is ‘to nurture Zhonghuarians to be passionate learners in pursuit of excellence, dynamic and resilient leaders with a passion for innovation, cultured and caring citizens with a global outlook’, built on the foundation of our school RICE Values - Responsibility, Integrity, Care and Excellence.

2009

Zhonghua became the first co-ed autonomous secondary school to offer the Art Elective Programme (AEP), giving art students a boost through an elaborate art curriculum that focuses on new media and design.

2011

Zhonghua celebrated her 100th Anniversary. Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong graced Zhonghua Secondary School’s 100th Year anniversary as Guest-of-Honour and praised the school for its ability to evolve over time and stay relevant for the community and the nation.

2012

Zhonghua launched the mass PE programme for all Secondary 1 students for them to learn in greater depth the two niche sports of the school: Basketball and Volleyball, besides providing a structured grounding in various sports skills for every student at every level. New leadership opportunities - the Academic and School Improvement Team (SIT) Leaders, as well as the Health Ambassadors among our PE/Sports Leaders, were also formed to develop the leadership potential of more students.

2014

The Distinguished Speakers Series (杰出的演讲者系列) was launched in line with our school’s vision, ‘Scholars ○ Leaders’ (博学 ○ 领袖). Respected speakers from the community, the alumni as well as established professionals were invited to share their leadership experiences and insights with the next generation of leaders. The platform also allowed the school to build ties and strengthen the relationship between our present student population and the larger community.

2015

The school retained its Autonomous School status.

2016

Zhonghua Chinese Orchestra (CO) and Guzheng CCAs staged their first combined concert, Zephyr. Having See Chow Ye, CO Chairperson (2014-2015), to be the student conductor of the night is testament of living out our school vision of developing ‘Scholars ○ Leaders’. The vibrant and high-spirited concert received various accolades from the rapt audience that night.

2017

Music, Computing and Food & Nutrition were introduced alongside a revised STEAM curriculum to prepare students to be future-ready. New and upgraded infrastructural facilities such as the Music Lab, STEM Room, a 3D Printing Studio and the Student Centre were launched to facilitate effective learning.

Zhonghua was also featured in the Channel 8 Tuesday Report documentary ‘When The Bell Rings Episode 7 <星期二特写: 钟声响起时>’, which chronicled Zhonghua’s evolution and transformation over the past 106 years.

2018

Zhonghua marked its 10th anniversary in the Stamp Out Dengue Programme in collaboration with the Braddell Heights Community Centre and the National Environment Agency. Students visited the Serangoon HDB and Braddell Heights estates to engage with residents by distributing pamphlets to raise awareness about dengue prevention, playing an active role as ambassadors to safeguard the community since 2008.

2019

Zhonghua embarked on the Bicentennial Project in collaboration with the National Heritage Board to commemorate the school’s history alongside the nation’s Bicentennial Celebrations. A three-part documentary was filmed, showcasing Zhonghua’s rich history of its people and their stories. Chapter 1 ‘No Boundaries’, featured Zhonghua’s evolution from a Chinese Girls’ School and its move towards being co-ed till the recent times, emphasizing on the school’s ability to embrace diversity and encourage inclusivity while honouring its heritage. Chapter 2 ‘No Surrender’ highlighted the theme of resilience where previous principals shared about challenges that the school has overcome. Finally in Chapter 3 ‘No Slowing Down’ showcased how Zhonghua developed its traditional niche area in the Arts and in STEM education, in order to provide a holistic curriculum for its students in recent years.

2020

Zhonghuarians were adaptable and resilient during Full Home-Based Learning (FHBL) by utilising ICT tools to facilitate remote learning from home. Teachers became role models as lifelong learners by picking up new ICT skills to adapt to the changing education landscape.

2021

Zhonghua celebrates her 110th Anniversary.