Dr Jimmy Koh, Chairman, School Management Committee, Chung Cheng High School and Nanyang Junior College
Mr Terence Yao, Principal, Chung Cheng High School (Main)
Students and alumni of the Chung Cheng family
Colleagues from the education fraternity
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
1. Good morning. I am happy to be here with you at Chung Cheng High School (Main), for the re-opening of Chung Cheng High School (Main)'s Zhulin Building and Grand Auditorium. Today, we also celebrate the anniversary of Chung Cheng High School and Nanyang Junior College.
2. Founded in 1939 by leaders of Singapore's Chinese community, Chung Cheng High School (Main) is one of Singapore's oldest Chinese schools.
3. Under your educational philosophy of 'Excellence in Education for All or '有教无类', the school has worked hard to provide a quality education for all, regardless of background and circumstances.
4. In its early days, the school held drama performances and music concerts on stages erected with wooden planks. School assemblies also required a big lorry, with the speaker standing atop the lorry.
5. Seeing the need for a dedicated venue, the school raised funds and constructed its now iconic Zhulin Building and Grand Auditorium in 1947. Designed by Chung Cheng alumnus and esteemed architect Mr Ho Beng Hong, the Zhulin Building has both traditional Chinese motifs and architectural features. Opened in 1968 by our Founding Prime Minister, the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, it was named 'Zhulin Building' in memory of the school's late founding principal, Dr Chuang Chu Lin.
6. It was in this Grand Auditorium that many students discovered and furthered their passion for the arts. This includes Mr Low Ing Sing, a pioneer of our Mandarin drama and theatre scene, as well as acclaimed playwright and director Mr Ann Jong Juan. Both of them have contributed much to Singapore's arts and theatre scenes and received Singapore's Cultural Medallion (Theatre).
7. The Zhulin Building, as well as the school's iconic Entrance Arch (中正牌坊), were gazetted collectively as a National Monument in 2014.
8. In 2020, the school planned and fundraised to upgrade and renovate the Zhulin Building and Grand Auditorium. I am glad to note that funding was provided almost entirely by alumni, with the majority of contributions coming from the School Management Committee.
9. In fact, from our early days of Singapore's education history, the education of our people was built from the ground up. Many of these early schools, including Chung Cheng, were built through the sweat and toil of our wider Singapore community – be it the philanthropists, businesspeople, well-wishers, tradesmen, carpenters, builders, shopkeepers, employees – contributing big and small, all from the heart. This is because even from Singapore's early days, as it still is today, everyone believed in the importance of education. Brick by brick, tile by tile, schools were built up through the sweat and toil of the generations.
10. Today, our community must continue to be heavily invested in the education our next generation. It is also important for our schools and school leaders to tap on the community around them, to support our students and their education.
11. This brings us to the upgraded Zhulin Building and Grand Auditorium today. I heard from our student leaders earlier that the upgraded facilities will provide a more conducive performance venue for performing arts and other school-wide programmes. The rooms within the Zhulin Building will also be reconfigured to create more versatile learning spaces to enhance teaching and learning experiences.
12. Please join me in honouring and appreciating the school leaders, staff and alumni from Chung Cheng High School (Main), as well as the School Management Committee for Chung Cheng High School and Nanyang Junior College for contributing greatly to the upgrading of the Zhulin Building and Grand Auditorium.
13. Let me say a few words in Mandarin.
14. 新加坡是多元文化的社会，双语能力是国人身份认同的重要核心之一，也是我们的竞争优势。双语能力能够帮助我们开拓国际视野，与东西方建立联系，扮演好桥梁的角色。为了实现这个重要的使命，中正中学总校、中正中学（义顺）和南洋初级学院，这些年来不遗余力，不断为我国培养能为新加坡贡献的年轻一代。在此，我要对三校表达由衷的感谢。
15. 作为特选学校，中正中学总校培养了无数双语双文化人才，推进新加坡的艺术、文学和文化事业。
16. 中正中学（义顺）坚信差异化教育，为学生安排各种教育项目，也通过各种艺术形式，让学生接触华语和华人文化。
17. 南洋初级学院不单是华文语文特选课程和美术特选课程中心，也着重于表演艺术，每年都会筹办华语戏剧节目，提升学生的艺术和文学修养。
18. 在此，我要祝贺中正中学总校顺利翻新竹林大厦和大礼堂。这座新设施将能为各种艺术表演提供一个理想的表演场地。
19. 我要特别感谢中正学校董事会，校长，校友、老师和同学、为翻新工程所作出的贡献。
20. 希望中正能够承先启后，继续推广文化艺术，也为国家培育更多贤才。
21. A big thank you to the Chung Cheng family, past and present, for your contributions to furthering our youth's awareness and knowledge of the Chinese language and culture in Singapore.
22. I hope the Chung Cheng family will continue on its journey to encourage and inspire students to continue its legacy in providing quality education, and inspiring students for generations to come.
23. Thank you.