HWA CHONG INSTITUTION (HCI)

Our group visited a variety of schools during the study visit and a recurring theme began
to emerge. There was a consensus that Singapore, as a country, has one very important
resource – people. When visiting the Hwa Chong Institution, we experienced how the
pupils are actively empowered to become the leaders of the future.

Ethos :
At Hwa Chong Institution (HCI), their mission is to produce next generation leaders.
The curriculum allows opportunity for the pupils to develop the skills needed to
challenge, debate and discuss a wide range of issues concerning the world today. In order
to facilitate this, pupils have access to a spacious ‘mock parliament’ in the Ong Teng
Cheong leadership training centre where issues are debated.

Leadership Model:
There are three main components which HCI suggest contribute to a good leadership
model:
people, task and character. The phrase ‘character building’ in particular, was used
repeatedly during our week long visit. Opportunities to develop holistically as a good
person is an attribute embedded in the education system and all children appeared to
know and understand the values of their school. For example, HCI showed evidence of
awards to students for ‘good self discipline’ and ‘showing compassion’.

Values:

The Motto of HCI is ‘the relentless pursuit of excellence’. The school has six clear
values which support this motto:

• JOY: staff are encouraged to ‘bring the joy back’ by providing opportunities for
both pupils and staff to be creative and to make decisions about their own
teaching and learning. The vice principal suggested that failure does occur at
times and children will ‘learn to fail’ and know how to fix it. Perhaps more
importantly, they will find and apply strategies to make it better the next time.
The idea of creativity and flexibility has similarities with Scotland’s new
Curriculum for Excellence.

• TEAMWORK: at HCI, staff and children are encouraged to show much better
‘frustration tolerance’ towards others. Pupils learn individually and in groups and
are given a variety of opportunities to identify and solve problems. Again, this
has similarities with Assessment is for Learning approaches in Scotland.

• INTEGRITY: it is expected that children will trust and gain personal credibility
with each other. By reinforcing and living the values of the school, the students
 have a shared understanding of how to become responsible citizens.

• GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE: during the study visit, the idea of ‘globalisation’

was highlighted as a challenge as well as a concern for people in Singapore.
Much of the literature from HCI encourages the pupils to adopt a global
perspective in an increasingly complex world full of technological advances.
Singapore is a small country and students at HCI are encouraged to look beyond
their own borders and will experience life elsewhere. For example, students can
attend a ‘satelite camp’ overseas and will stay for at least a month. They are
encouraged to mix with the locals and to experience more than the tourist places.
They will peel back layers to get a true sense of life in another country.

• EXCELLENCE: the motto of HCI is ‘the relentless pursuit of excellence.’

Students at HCI are the top 3% academically, but staff were keen to stress that
merit is the main criteria.

• RESILIENCE: HCI firmly believes that resilience is an essential element of

leadership. A good leader, they suggest, must accept praise but also absorb
negative comments with dignity. Being able to implement strategies to improve is
also evidence of good leadership.

Hwa Chong is a school anchored in values and purpose. The values are made real
because the children have a rich, nurtured and supportive environment from which to
learn and progress as the next generation of Singaporeans.

www.hwachong.edu.sg

661 Bukit Timah Road

Singapore
269734

Carol Henderson – East Ayrshire Council

carol.henderson2@east-ayrshire.gov.uk