Anglo-Chinese Junior College

Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) is a junior college of Singapore that was established on 3 January 1977. It is part of the Anglo-Chinese School family Singapore. The school is located in Dover, Singapore, offering two-year pre-university courses leading to the GCE Advanced Level examinations. It was the first Junior College in Singapore to have a sports field and a running track on campus.

ACJC's class of 2005 produced two out of four President's Scholars. In the 2006 GCE A-Level results, a record 233 students scored at least three As. Bowling, Rugby, swimming, hockey, netball and water polo are among the sports in which ACJC has done well over the years, often finishing the season either 1st or 2nd. Cultural activities include The ACJC Chinese Orchestra, Choir, Concert Band, Drama and Dance Societies, and the Debate Team.

History
The history of the school dates back to 1913, when Rev. William Oldham saw the need for a junior college for ACS. As a result, the Anglo-Chinese College building project and fund-raising initiative was started by Rev. J S Nagle, who started negotiations with the British colonial government about setting up a college to prepare students for British university education. The proposal was turned down by the government, who decided in favour of establishing Raffles College (now the National University of Singapore) to commemorate the centenary of the founding of Singapore.

In 1970 the ACS Board of Governors submitted their recommendations for a junior college to the Singapore government. A 6-hectare site at Rochester Park on a 30-year lease was given for the construction of the college. ACJC thus became the fifth junior college to be established in line with the Ministry of Education's policy on pre-university education, equivalent to a British Sixth-form college, welcoming 968 students in Pre-U 1 and Pre-U 2, on 3 January 1977. To start with, it was an all-male institution. Its main complex was equipped with three lecture theatres, a library, the Tan Chin Tuan Auditorium and eight laboratories. The Shaw Sports Complex housed a 400-metre bitumen track, tennis, volleyball, basketball and sepak takraw courts.

Since then, more facilities have been added to the college, with an extension to the original block, and a refurbishment in the 1980s.

The first principal of ACJC in 1977 was Mr Chee Keng Lim. He had previously been principal of ACS (secondary school). Mr Chee carried over to the new Junior College the long-standing ACS "family tradition" of corporal punishment, using caning to discipline misbehaving male students. However, ACJC practice has been to deliver the strokes of the cane privately in the principal's room, whereas canings at ACS were administered in front of the student body. In one case in 1987, seven ACJC students were caned for stealing audio equipment from the college.

Culture
ACJC is a Methodist institution committed to an all-rounded education based on Christian principles and a consciousness of others, self and God.

Students' Council
The ACJC Students' Council has for 30 years been the voice of the students, forming a bridge between the college administration and the student body. The Council handles the management of events such as Orientation, Chinese New Year celebrations and Teachers' Day, and is also concerned with student welfare.

The Students' Council consists of five sub-committees: the Administrative Executive Committee (EXCO), College Welfare, Public Relations, CCA, and Sales. Other, temporary committees may be set up to organise specific events.

Councillors are selected through a process of interviews, campaigning, college-wide elections, training sessions, and the June camp, which is held annually. The elects then receive their appointment on Council Investiture Day, marking the hand-over of duties from the senior council.

Fun-O-Rama
This biennial fundraiser is a funfair, where students and teachers set up booths for games or for the sale of food and memorabilia. Attractions include the haunted houses and the dunking station in which prominent members of the student body and the faculty participate. Alumni of the school tend to be the largest supporters of the event.

The Fun-O-Rama involves the entire school and its alumni (as well as the entire ACS family), and the funds it has generated over the years have helped the college build a sports complex, as well as giving the entire premises a facelift, including new extensions and buildings. Besides the primary aim of raising funds, Fun-O-Rama helps bond the classes as they embark on their fund-raising projects.

Phase 1
In 1989 the first physical expansion of the college was conducted, costing SGD 3.5 million. The project was proposed in 1986 and approved by the Ministry of Education three years later. The extension included a new four-storey Library Block to contain the Oldham Library on two levels, two lecture theatres and two micro-computer laboratories. A multi-purpose void deck was built under the extension, providing additional physical space for future events such as the Fun-O-Rama carnival. A brand new 8-lane 400m track and soccer field with floodlighting capacity was also included. This phase was completed in 1991.

Phase 2
1 March 1992 on Founder's Day marked the start of construction for the ACJC Sports Complex. The Complex contains two swimming pools, a gymnasium, badminton courts and billiard facilities. A multi-purpose hall was also built in the complex, together with a lounge, dance studios, and a Heritage Room where trophies and memorabilia are showcased. The Complex also houses a cafe on the pool deck. Funds for this were raised through the Fun-O-Rama and other carnivals, to the tune of SGD 500,000.

Phase 3
After 20 years of housing ACJC's main lecture theatres, auditorium, staff room and classrooms, the main 7-storey building was in need of extensive renovation. There was also a need for the college to be in line with MOE's latest specifications, namely in the provision of IT-enabled facilities. In 1999, the College Upgrading Project was started at a total cost of SGD 21 million. The main block was refurbished and a 600-seat lecture theatre and viewing gallery built, with a concourse linking it to the lobby of the building. An Oldham Wing and covered walkways to all parts of the campus were built. This phase was completed by December 2002.

The Anglo-Chinese Junior College for Performing Arts is the centrepiece of the performing arts programmes at ACJC. Commissioned in May 2008, it hosts a fully equipped theatre, a black box, a dance studio and other places for the performing arts. The CPA is home to many of the College's musical and theatrical productions, and the facilities are also available for use by the community.

Notable Alumni

 * Nathan Hartono: Singer
 * Nat Ho: Actor
 * Desmond Kuek: Former Chief of Defence Force
 * Shawn Lee: Actor
 * Hossan Leong: Actor
 * Lui Tuck Yew: Ambassador to Japan
 * James Lye: Former Actor
 * Eunice Olsen: Actress
 * Adrian Pang: Actor
 * Ronnie Tay: Former Chief of Navy

Links

 * Official website