Chung Ching Middle School celebrates 71st anniversary

CHUNG CHING Middle School Seria celebrated its 71st year of its founding in front of distinguished guests and alumni at a banquet gathering on Saturday.

During the dinner, Chai Youk Fatt, Chairman of the Anniversary Organising Committee, gave a welcoming speech to the audience and spoke of his appreciation for the support shown to the committee and the school by both the board of directors and the public.

In his opening speech, Chin Kim Min, Chairman of Chung Ching Board of Directors, expressed his gratitude for the hard work put in by staff of the school, and also thanked the public for their unwavering support for Chung Ching through her 71 years of history.

He also gave special mention to Principal Cheong Poh Lian who recently joined the school, requesting the public to lend her the support just as they have always done for Chung Ching.

Guest of honour Pehin Bendahari China Dato Paduka Onn Siew Siong commented on Chung Ching School's excellent performance through the years, adding that under the multicultural policy promoted by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Chung Ching has thrived under a multilingual education system and is on its way towards being a renowned Middle School in the Sultanate.

Also part of the programme for the night was the presentation of outstanding awards for five students, accompanied by cultural performance from students of all levels.

The fund-raising event for the night collected $225,596 to go to the development fund for the school.

The banquet was attended by distinguished figures from Brunei's Chinese community, including Chan Sui Kiat, Permanent Honorary Adviser to Chung Ching and President of Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Han Min Yuan, Honorary Chairman of Chung Ching and President of Hainan Association of Kuala Belait, and Tan San Leong, Chairman of Chung Hwa Middle School BSB.

Chung Ching Middle School was founded by Yong Chee Shan and other Chinese in 1938 to provide education to the growing population due to the booming oil industry.

The school was destroyed by bombs during World War II and rebuilt in 1946 under the direction of Yong. The Junior High section started in 1954 and the very first Senior High programme in Brunei followed in 1957.

From its humble beginnings, Chung Ching is now a full-fledge school comprising a kindergarten, primary, junior and senior high school all within one compound.

There are currently 948 students enrolled in the school with more than 20 per cent of the students from non-Chinese ethnic groups. The Brunei Times