Nan Chiau High School

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The school was originally founded as Nan Chiau Teachers’ Training School in 1941 by Mr. Tan Kah Kee. The school motto, 诚毅(Sincerity and Perseverance) embodies his values. These words are inscribed on a historic plaque now housed in NCHS.

In 1947, the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan (SHHK) converted Nan Chiau Teachers’ Training School into Nan Chiau Girls’ High School, which included an affiliated primary school. The picture depicts the old campus of Nan Chiau Girls’ High School at Kim Yam Road.

In 1965, to accommodate a rapidly growing student population, the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan (SHHK) invested $2 million in reconstructing the campus. The new campus was officially inaugurated on March 8, 1970, by then-Minister for Education, Mr. Ong Pang Boon. In 1984, the school became fully co-educational and was renamed Nan Chiau High School.

By embracing the spirit of "爱我南侨" (ai wo nan qiao), which forms the foundation of the school's identity, NCHS remains committed to developing future-ready thinkers, bicultural leaders, and caring citizens.

School History

Nan Chiau High School was founded as Nan Chiau Teachers’ Training School in 1941 by Chinese businessman, community leader and philanthropist, Mr Tan Kah Kee. Its first campus on Kim Yam Road was built on land donated by Mr Lee Kong Chian. In early 1942, the campus became the headquarters and training grounds for Dalforce, a Chinese volunteer army formed to resist the Japanese invasion. In 1947, Nan Chiau Teachers’ Training School was converted by the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan (SHHK) into Nan Chiau Girls’ High School with an ancillary primary school. A female hostel was also built in the 1950s.

In 1965, the SHHK invested $2 million in rebuilding the school, temporarily relocating the high school to Guillemard Road while the primary school remained at its original site. The new campus was completed in 1969 and was officially opened by Mr. Ong Pang Boon, then Minister for Education, on 8 March 1970. By 1974, the total student enrolment peaked at 2692, with 48 secondary classes and 24 primary classes, prompting a $300, 000 expansion of the school building to add a 5th storey. As Kim Yam Road’s residential area matured, the student enrolment saw a sharp decline. To overcome this, the school went fully co-educational in 1984.

Nan Chiau Girls’ High School was then renamed Nan Chiau High School. However, the student population continued shrinking in the 1990s. Despite the school’s rich history and the support from the alumni and the SHHK, the school was on the verge of permanent closure. Faced with the dilemma of repurposing the land on Kim Yam Road and hence closing the school, or relocating the school to Sengkang new town, SHHK, the school and its alumni unanimously chose relocation to secure a future for Nan Chiau High School.

In 2001, the primary and secondary sections were relocated to Sengkang as two separate schools. Nan Chiau High School has continued to develop students holistically and it was recognised as a Special Assistance Plan school in 2012.

Another milestone came in 2020 when the school was selected as a Chinese Language Elective Programme (CLEP-Sec) school to strengthen the school’s bilingual and bicultural education. To nurture talent in this area, Bilingualism was added as a Direct School Admission (DSA) category, alongside performing arts, sports, and visual arts.

Principals:
- Mr Yang Zhenli (1947–1950)
- Mdm Qiu Rentuan (1951–1960)
- Mdm Lin Fanglan (1961–1968)
- Mdm Kau Ah Suo (1969–1986)
- Mr Su Wei Cher (1989–1997)
- Mr Ng Lee Huat (1998–2004)
- Mr Yeo Kuerk Heng (2004)
- Mr Ong Kian Choon (2005–2010)
- Mr Tan Yee Kan (2011–2018)
- Ms Siau Fong Fui (2019–2022)
- Mdm Ler Jia Luen (2023 - present)

Key Milestones

School Motto

诚毅
Sincerity and Perseverance
Sincerity (诚) means honesty to self and others. Perseverance (毅) implies determination and tenacity in the pursuit of personal growth and academic success.

School Crest

The crest is represented by three interlocking rings, which symbolise the moral, physical and intellectual development of students. These are intrinsic to the quest for excellence in education. The red colour of the rings signifies a persevering spirit in the pursuit of a bright and promising future, as represented by the golden background. The heart shape in the centre of the overlapping rings symbolises care and concern for the total welfare of the students.

School Song

热情在燃烧
歌声上云霄
我们同声赞美
可爱的南侨

时代在呼唤
警钟在猛敲
发扬中华文化
争取国家荣耀

亲爱的师友们
亲爱的同学们
我们携手迈进
向着那共同的目标

虚心的学习
不断的研讨
遵守诚毅校训
大家团结牢

时代在呼唤
警钟在猛敲
发扬中华文化
争取国家荣耀

亲爱的师友们
亲爱的同学们
我们携手迈进
向着那共同的目标

Our passion is burning,
Our songs  are soaring,
Let us praise in a single voice,
Beloved Nan Chiau.
Reinvent ourselves,
Thrive in the dynamic era,
Promote the Chinese culture,
Seek glory for our nation.
Beloved teachers and friends,
Beloved schoolmates,
Let us put our hearts together,
To work towards our common goal.

Passion in learning,
Relentless in pursuing,
Uphold our school motto,
Sincerity and perseverance.
Reinvent ourselves,
Thrive in the dynamic era,
Promote  the Chinese culture,
Seek glory for our nation.
Beloved teachers and friends,
Beloved schoolmates,
Let us put our hearts together,
To work towards our common goal.