Nan Chiau High School

Nan Chiau High School (NCHS) (simplified Chinese: 南侨中学) is a premier co-educational institution in Singapore affiliated to Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, offering the four-year Special/Express course for secondary education.

Nan Chiau High shares its heritage with several other institutions in Singapore with the same founder. The name of the institution is a direct phonic translation of the term “南侨” in Chinese which meant the Overseas Chinese of the Southeast Asian region (南洋华侨), particularly the Malayan Peninsula.The name of the institution is a reflection of its mission to empower youths through education, shared along with several other institutions which share the same identity, such as The Chinese High School (presently Hwa Chong Institution) as well as Nanyang Girls' High School. 

In 1947, Nan Chiau Teachers' Training College was converted into a girls' high school, featuring a primary school section. Mr Yang Zhen Li was the first Principal of the institution, with an initial student enrollment of 900.A female hostel was also built in the 1950s. In 1965, 2 million dollars was spent by the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuanto rebuild Nan Chiau Girl's High School to meet the needs of an increased student enrollment. During the re-construction, the high school section conducted lessons at a temporary campus at Guillemard Road, whilst the primary school section continued lessons at the unaffected classroom blocks of the Kim Yam Road campus. The new campus was officially opened by then Minister for Education Mr. Ong Pang Boon, on 8 March 1969.

In 1974, the student population of the institution went up to 2692, the highest in the school’s history, with 48 classes in the high school section and 24 classes at the primary school section. To cope with the increased enrollment, additional 300 thousand dollars was spent for constructing the 5th storey of the school building.

In 1978, Nan Chiau Girls' High was initially included in the list of newly established Special Assistance Plan Schools. However, with the concern from the Ministry of Education over the quality of students admitted, the number of SAP schools were amended to nine, which excluded Nan Chiau Girl's High School. In 1980 the institution adopted English as its language medium. As student enrolment started to decline, the institution went co-educational in 1984 with the enrollment of male students, and was renamed "Nan Chiau High School".

Nan Chiau High School's uniform is closely linked to its heritage as a former traditional Chinese school. Originally, the school uniform was in full white with the Chinese name of the school sewed on the right chest level of the blouse, much similar to other institutions with Chinese heritage. Nearing the 1990s, the school uniform was switched to be worn with dark coloured school pants or pinafore, with dark coloured school tag was sewed on the left side of the shirt. The uniform was redesigned to suit the school's identity along with the relocation of the campus in 2000.

Currently, male students wear white studded shirts with Traditional Chinese characters of the school name on it in red. Navy blue shorts are worn in secondary 1 & 2, and long pants for upper secondary levels. Female students wear white blouses bearing the Traditional Chinese characters of the school name on it in red, with navy blue pleated skirts. During Assemblies and important functions, every student will wear a red-coloured school tie.