Nanyang Junior College

Nanyang Junior College 南洋初级学院 Maktab Rendah Nanyang
共同建设 (Together We Build)
Address
128 Serangoon Avenue 3, Singapore 556111 Lorong Chuan, Serangoon Singapore
Coordinates	1°21′03″N 103°52′01″E / 1.3507°N 103.866913°E / 1.3507; 103.866913Coordinates: 1°21′03″N 103°52′01″E / 1.3507°N 103.866913°E / 1.3507; 103.866913
Information
Type	Government-Aided
Established	16 April 1977
Session	Single-session
School code	0805
Principal	Mr Kwek Hiok Chuang
Staff	160+
Gender	Mixed
Enrolment	1800+
Language	Chinese, Malay, Tamil
Colour(s)	Blue, Yellow and Red
Song	"Together We Build"
Affiliation	Chung Cheng High School (Main) Chung Cheng High School (Yishun)
Mission	Uphold Values, Impart Lifeskills, Maximise Potential.
Vision	A leading college serving the nation with: Enhanced character development; Quality staff; Quality learners; Organisational excellence
Website	nanyangjc.moe.edu.sg

Nanyang Junior College (NYJC) is a junior college in Singapore, offering two-year pre-university courses leading up to the GCE Advanced Level examinations. ^[1]

History

Nanyang Junior College was founded in 1977 as Lorong Chuan Junior College, It was among the first government-aided junior colleges to be established in Singapore, settling at Serangoon Avenue 3. ^[2] The first Principal was Mr Chia Khoon Hock. The first cohort of Arts and Science students, about 600 altogether, was enrolled in January 1978. They were housed temporarily in the then Westlake Secondary School. ^[2] The completion of the construction of the major buildings and facilities in November 1978, the staff and students moved to the new premises in the following month. ^[2]

The college was renamed as Nanyang Junior College in 1978. The name "Nanyang" refers to the "Southern Seas" in Mandrain Chinese. This was what the mainland Chinese people referred to the region encompassed by Singapore, Malaysia and the Southeast Asian region. The name is a reflection of the origins of Singapore having been built by immigrants predominantly from China, India, Malaysia, as well as other parts of the world.

As the campus of Nanyang Junior College was built on a small ridge, fog often covered part of the college in the 1980s and 1990s the college was known affectionately as “白云岗” (in Mandarin, literally meaning "White Cloud Ridge"). This is also the inspiration for the brand-name of the college's Chinese Cultural Society's annual drama production. The Nanyang Junior College Alumni Association was formed on 15 June 1988. ^[3]

In 1997, Nanyang Junior College was selected to be the second college in Singapore to offer the Art Elective Programme (Singapore) (AEP). From 15 January 1999, NYJC became the third pre-university centre in Singapore to launch the Chinese Language Elective Programme.^[4]

In 2006, the school's executive committee proposed a name change to the school's name: "Chung Cheng Junior College" to signify the affliation of Nanyang Junior College to Chung Cheng High (Main) and Chung Cheng High (Yishun) Nevertheless, this proposition is overwhelmingly rejected by the alumni and staff. A sign was also erected saying "Once an NYJCian, Always an NYJCian", as an affirmation to the school identity. ^[5]

In recent years, Nanyang Junior College has witnessed tremendous raise in its admission requirements, recording a cut-off-point of 6 for science and art streams. This places NYJC as one of the top 5 junior colleges based on entry points. The college has proved its consistent results in the A levels examination, faring well above national average for many subjects. ^[6]

Principal

School Identity & Culture

Insignia and Motto

Nanyang Junior College's insignia bears a white lion on a red background above a sea. The white lion over the red background symbolised the courage and pride to strive for excellence in the face of challenge, as portrayed by the waves in blue.^[9] The white lion also portrays the quality to challenge convention as a leader, as a symbol of distinction.^[10] The college motto, "Together We Build", highlighted the importance of each individual as a building block of a community. ^[11]

Uniform

Male students wear a plain beige-coloured shirt with beige pants. Female students wear a beige-coloured shirt with beige skirt. The former uniform, which was of a deeper brown, was completely phased out in 2008. The collar pin, which bears the college insignia, is worn on the left collar of shirt. Dark brown blazers and school ties are worn on special occasions. The attire for PE is a college T-shirt with blue and white shoulder stripes and black shorts which bear the school initials. ^[12]

In 2012, two dress-down days were introduced (Wednesdays and Fridays). This was accompanied by the introduction of the college polo T-shirts. Apart from the class, CCA T-shirts, students could wear the college polo T-shirts and school event T-shirts as part of the official college uniform. In 2013, the number of dress-down days was increased to 4 (except for Wednesdays) ^[13][14]

Student Welfare

Nanyang Junior College is one of the few colleges in Singapore not allocating an 'S' to Science classes and 'A' to Arts classes since the new curriculum was introduced in 2006, opting instead to avoid such labels in order to foster a greater sense of college spirit. It is also one of the few junior colleges in Singapore that do not hold morning assemblies at the conventional 7.30 am or 7.40 am. Assembly is held at 8.30 am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays for first year students, and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for second year students. Students will report to school by 8.25 am on these days. On the remaining days, there are no assembly and students may go report at 8.50 am.^[15]

Affiliation

Nanyang Junior College is affiliated with Chung Cheng High School (Main) & Chung Cheng High School (Yishun). Students from both affiliated institutions are entitled to two additional point reduction to their L1R5 raw scores for their GCE Ordinary Level examination results when applying for admission into NYJC (a maximum of 4 reduction points to L1R5 score is allowed for JC Joint Admission Exercise, with the exception for appeals through Language Elective Programmes, which additional 2 point reduction may be applied as a factor of consideration). ^[16]

Campus

Nanyang Junior College’s campus was built on a hilly ridge off Lorong Chuan, and underwent a redevelopment in the 2000s to keep up with the changes to the academic and non-academic curriculum. ^[17]

The campus is designed to incorporate natural ventilation and lighting, as well as seamless accessibility for the disabled. The main block is characterised by its iconic circular foyer which features the college fountain and houses three lecture theatres beneath. ^[17] The staff room, library and computer laboratories are built around the foyer. The fourth and largest lecture theatre, has a seating capacity of 600, and is equipped with stage facilities. ^[18] All lecture theatres and mass lesson venues are installed with tables catered to left-handers. The college features study benches scattered in abundance around the school, allowing students to study under a quiet environment aside the library. ^[19]

The college is open during the weekends and public holidays, and allows students to study in tutorial rooms through a booking system. ^[19]

Academic Information

Nanyang Junior College offers Arts and Science courses that leads up to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Advanced Level examinations.

As a student-centred junior college, NYJC is quoted locally as the most flexible college in terms of its availability of subject combinations. ^[20] In recent years, the school has come into prominence for its steady rise to be among colleges with the most competitive academic achievements, faring well above the national average for a number of subjects at the annual GCE A Level examination. This was also reflected by the growing selectivity and increasingly stringent entry requirements for applicants year-on-year. ^[21][22]

Language Elective Programme

As a ministry designated Cluster Centre of Excellence for Chinese Language, Nanyang Junior College offers the Chinese Language Elective Programme (or 语特) since 1999.^[23] Students are required to undertake H2 Chinese Language and Literature and a Chinese Language related subject to be eligible for the programme.^[24] To date, it has produced many scholarship holders in the Chinese Language field.^[25]

Art Elective Programme

Nanyang Junior College offers the Art Elective Programme since 1997.^[26] The college is also one of the ministry designated Cluster Centre of Excellence for Art.^[27]

Co-Curricular Activities

Student Council

The Student Council is formed by a group of 30 to 40 councillors elected by the student population. Headed by an executive committee, there are three committees in the Student Council – Welfare, Communications and College Image and Bonding. Nanyang Junior College Student Council is one of the first Student Councils in Singapore to have a Twitter account to update the student population on college events and initiatives. ^[28]

Class Leaders' Committee

The Class Leaders' Committee (CLC) (previously known as 'Civics Tutorial Congress') of NYJC is made up of all Class Leaders. The entire Class Leaders' Committee is governed by a body called the Class Leaders' Executive Committee (CLEXCO), which helps in disseminating all information to the Class Leaders, organising courses and camps for Class Leaders, planning and executing events in school. ^[29][30]

College Alumni

Nanyang Junior College Alumni Association

Nanyang Junior College Alumni Association was the official alumni body of Nanyang Junior College, registered on 15 June 1988. The association is aimed to strengthen ties between the graduates, as well as with current students, former and present staffs. It also serve as a partner of the college in initiatives and programmes in relation to students' all-round development.^[31] For instance, the association introduced the NY Achiever Award to be given on College Day to students who have excelled in both their studies and in community service, as a complement to the leadership development curriculum of the college. ^[32]

Notable alumni

Politics

• Mr. James Gomez: Opposition politician, Singapore Democratic Party
• Assoc Prof. Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Health & Ministry of Transport; Member of Parliament, Nee Soon GRC
• Mdm. Ng Phek Hoong Irene: Former Member of Parliament, Tampines GRC
• Mr. Chia Kiah Hong, Steve: Opposition politician; Former secretary-general, National Solidarity Party
• Mr. Teo Ser Luck: Minister of State; Member of Parliament, Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC
• Mr. Yeo Guat Kwang: Former Member of Parliament, Ang Mo Kio GRC

Law

• Assoc Prof Phua Lye Huat, Stephen: Director, LLM (International Business Law) Programme, Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore

Defence

• LG Neo Kian Hong: Former Chief of Defence Forces, Singapore Armed Forces

Gallery

• 
  The façade and track of the college.
• 
  High Elements Ropes Course in the college campus.
• 
  View of the college Quadrangle.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nanyang Junior College.

• Official website
• NYJC Facebook Page
• Nanyang Junior College Alumni Association