Tutong Chung Hwa in new era

DECEMBER 1 was a jubilant day for Tutong Chung Hwa School. It celebrated its founding in 1937. It was also the occasion of the official opening of its new complex of two building blocks comprising 16 classes, one science laboratory, one computer room, one staff room, one meeting room and in another separate building complete with staff quarters, a principal's office and a well-ventilated canteen.

The environment now, modern and properly landscaped, bears no resemblance to what it was 70 years ago. This latest renovation cost the school about B$1 million, no mean achievement for a small private school with less than 300 students and from a comparatively small district of around 42,000 people of various races and tribes of which Chinese number less than 3,000.






Marking 70th anniversary: Pg Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj.Mohammad Pg Hj.And. Rahman, Acting Minister of Education and guest of honour ( C, front row) sitting with Pehin Dato Onn Siew Siong chairman of the school (on his right) and Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Awang Goh King Chin (on his left) and Pehin Kapitan Cina Kornia Diraja Awang Lau Ah Kok (on Pehin Goh's left) and other VIPs, including school supporters, management committee members, past and present principals and teachers. Sitting (2L) is the writer. Picture: Francis Law

According to Pehin Bendahari China Dato Paduka Onn Siew Siong, the school's chairman since 1983 only twice had the school celebrated its establishment — the present celebration of its 70th Anniversary was much grander by comparison.

The other occasion was in 1986, to mark its 50th anniversary at the School's basketball court against the background of its semi-concrete buildings erected atop a little mount in 1956 at a cost of B$42,000. In a historic picture kept in the archive of the school, Almarhum Sultan Hj Omar Ali Saifuddien Saadul Khairi Waddin, the respected and admired 28th Sultan of Brunei. was seen officiating at the opening ceremony , in the company of Awang Chong Seng Toh, a prominent personality in Tutong and was the then State Councillor and a member of the school's Management Committee. under the chairmanship of the late Goh Hock Kee. In a beautiful poem titled "Sekolahku" written by one Hakim ( he is none other than Dato Ahmad Bin Kadi, former Director of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka ) at the request of the school's principal for delivery by a student as part of its programme designed for Opening Ceremony and also its Gala Dinner at Dewan Seri Kenangan Dewan Kemasyarakatan, he singled out for special mention three significant persons in the early history of the school namely, Awang Wu Jia Sen and Awang Chung Liang Fa as its founders, among others and one Awang Chong Guo Wei( also spelt as Teo Kok Ooi) as its first headmaster.

It is generally believed, though not free from dispute, that Awang Chung Liang Fa's only wife Dayang Payak binti Kuli, a Dusun, as registered owner of the land consisting an area of three acres or thereabout, donated the valuable land to the school after the war with the blessing of her two children namely Awang Chong Seng Toh and her daughter Dayang Chong Kim Choo, mother of a famous lawyer in Kuala Belait Awang David Teo Kian Kong.

It is perhaps noteworthy that the said first headmaster was especially recruited from Labuan by his brother Awang Teo Kui Lin ( also known as Teo Kok Yee popularly known in Tutong as Mah Su ) who was then the first chairman of the school's Management Committee. the father of the above-said lawyer. David Teo, in pursuit of his late father's wish contributed tremendously to the cause of education in private schools in Belait District and headed the Management Committee of Chung Hua Middle School Kuala Belait for 20 years from 1984 to 2003..

The colourful event of 70th Anniversary saw the attendance of Pg Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohammad Pg Hj Abd Rahman, Acting Minister of Education as guest of honour to officiate at the opening ceremony of the new school buildings. The presence of Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Awang Goh King Chin and Pehin Kapitan Cina Kornia Diraja Awang Lau Ah Kok. unmistakably graced the occasion. Also present were Chinese community leaders from all the other districts, including presidents and /or delegates from all the Chinese associations within the state., supporters across the land each donating B$20,000 and above, showing an impressive cross section of Chinese community in Brunei Darussalam.

When the Guest of Honour arrived at the school's entrance on the dot at, 9am, a group photo was taken with the Acting Minister of Education right in front of the school's version of Arc De Triumph bearing the name of the school in Chinese calligraphy, the artistic writing of the late Goh Hock Kee done in 1956 when he was then its chairman. The late Mr Goh's brushwork shows his upbringing in traditional Chinese culture and learning.

It is noteworthy that where the late Mr Goh helped the school to rise, his son also did. His son Pehin Goh King Chin, a prominent motor trader and a parliamentarian, apart from topping the list of donors by signing a cheque for B$105,000 towards school building fund, also led all his brothers to erect a completely new gate with the old signboard affixed thereon as a gift for the school in memory of their father. This is an act of filial-piety, true to Confucian teaching. and they set a shining example to all Chinese who have made good in life.

Also praiseworthy was the inclusion in the group photo, not only the school's Management Committee members and all the VIPs, but also the present and past teachers and gurus besar. This is another sign that the current Chairman and the incumbent Principal and Assistant Principal took pains to drive home the teaching zun shi zhong dao ( respect teacher and uphold great learning)

A hot topic is why Tutong has been a birthplace for many outstanding people in Brunei. This humble school gave birth to two pehins, and a bumper crop of professionals, specially doctors, (not less than eight according to the calculation of its Assistant Principal Mr Soh Jin Khoon) and successful businessmen in private sector and many senior Government servants in Bandar Seri Begawan. The Chinese culture has a term for this phenomenon. It is called feng shui ( geomancy ) But the phenomenon is not Chinese at all. It is said that some heads of department and many senior government servants too hail from Tutong, the most prominent of whom is Pg Hj Mohd Yusof bin Pg Hj Abd. Rahim ( popularly known as "PY" and in the literary circle as "Yura Halim" and in Japan also known as the one Bruneian who survived the two American atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki)

In his speech, the Acting Minister gave a positive appraisal of the school's performance in recent years. He said Tutong Chong Hwa did very well in PSR, achieving 100 per cent passes for the years 1997-2003 (except 2000).. The school results for 2006 and 2007 were 90 per cent passes, quite impressive by any standard. But not good enough for the learned Doctor of Philosophy.

He has urged the school to take steps to stop the sliding trend. Such is the relentless pursuit of excellence by a person in authority from a department that seriously cares for the welfare and interest of students, irrespective of whether they are from government or non-government schools.

He also spoke highly of the school's Management Committee in successfully bringing about necessary changes and improvements to meet the needs of changing circumstances.

He noted that the school is now run in compliance with National Education Policy, following national curriculum in order to produce students well-balanced spiritually and physically.

He recognised the fact that despite its name, Tutong Chung Hwa School is not meant for Chinese only — 50 per cent of its students are Malays fluent in several languages, including Mandarin., an encouraging phenomenon not seen before., It is a symbol of multiracial harmony and a landmark of Tutong District.

In the course of 70 years, Tutong Chung Hwa School has survived difficulties and challenges. Whether it will continue to develop and prosper in the years ahead, will largely depend on its ability to maintain a stable Management Committee under an able leader and a teaching stuff under a capable Mandarin speaking bi-lingual principal or assistant principal. Any change in the leadership for the good of the school must take place gradually and in an orderly and democratic way and if possible according to plan.

The proceedings in the Opening Ceremony and the Gala Dinner bore witness to the crucial role played by two personalities namely Pehin Onn and Assistant Principal Mr Soh Jin Khoon. Their contributions to the school are a matter of long track record. Any attempt to belittle their contribution or slur their reputation by any smart Alec will not be thought of kindly by the community at large.

Financial support from the Chinese community will hinge on the school's ability to meet the demand and expectation of the community by offering to teach at the least, Chinese as a subject and to transmit Confucian values to the Chinese students through the activities organised by the school such as lion dance, celebrating the Moon festival, Chinese New Year and such other cultural events. This is borne out by the fund raised through a Gala Dinner held at Dewan Seri Kenangan Dewan Kemasyarakatan Tutong. The amount was around B$230,000.00, and still increasing through contributions by participants throughout the country.

The school's supporters, including the parents of students have a stake in the sound management of the school, including accountability of funds and transparency of accounts, properly audited.

The Acting Minister in his speech offered a timely reminder to this effect not only to all private schools but to other institutions and associations as well. Where money is concerned, let us all be concerned.