Foon Yew High School – Steeped in Tradition

February 26th, 2009 florence.tan

Ask any Johoreans working in Singapore on where he completes his high school education. Chances are, the reply you will get is “Foon Yew High School”.

Limsimi.com - Foon Yew High School

One of the biggest school in South East Asia, Foon Yew High School (simplified Chinese: 宽柔中学; traditional Chinese: 寬柔中學; pinyin: kuān róu zhōng xué) has 6 cohorts and more than 8,000 students at any one time. It is fully autonomous and receives no funding from the Malaysian Government.

Subjects are taught in Chinese during the first 3 years of education here (初一，二，三) and for the Science stream, English is used as the teaching medium from the 4th-6th year (高一，二，三). Students generally continue their studies in Singapore (NUS, NTU, SMU), Australia and for the very best – The University of Malaysia (challenging due to the quota imposed on Chinese).

Limsimi.com - Foon Yew High School (Front Gate)

Most of the buildings and classrooms in Foon Yew High School are named after generous donors and organisations. As it is a Chinese school, you can find Chinese quotes and idioms on classrooms, pillars and even benches. Right in the middle of the school, there is a statue of Confucius - a figure most fitting for epitomising Chinese teachings.

Limsimi.com - Foon Yew High School (Confucius)

Limsimi.com - Foon Yew High School (Bench 1, 饮水思源)

Limsimi.com - Foon Yew High School (Bench 2)

Limsimi.com - Foon Yew High School (Hokkien Huay Kuan)

A Chinese phrase will ring a bell to most alumni: “宽柔以教，不报无道，南方之强也，君子居之”. This is where Foon Yew (宽柔) originates its name. To put it simply, “宽” means “broad” while “柔” means “gentle”. A very apt name when you apply these principles – To be broadminded and gentle in teaching.

Foon Yew is also famous for sports and boast of having its own soccer field, basketball and badminton courts.

Limsimi.com - Foon Yew High School (Bench Area)

Limsimi.com - Foon Yew High School (Soccer Field)

Limsimi.com - Foon Yew High School (Basketball Courts)

There are plenty of famous alumnus in Foon Yew which includes Mediacorp artistes like 陳漢玮 and 石欣卉. It is always interesting to meet someone from Foon Yew and the first question you ask will always be: “Which class/year are you from?”

I am proud to say I am from Foon Yew High School. Do drop a note here if you are from Foon Yew too!

Details of Foon Yew High School:
Website: http://www.foonyew.edu.my/
Address: 59-C, Jalan Ibrahim Sultan, 80300 Johor Bahru, Johor
Tel: +607-2224446, +607-2232436, +607-2224655 

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Entry Filed under: Education