Debunked: The Myths and Stereotypes associated with Hwa Chong Institution
Bukit Timah — herein boasts the house on the hill, its iconic clock tower, and Chinese signs unequivocally revealing its name — Hwa Chong (HCI). With a large student body spanning from the high school to junior college section, along with its competitive cut-off points to enter, HCI earned its name as one of the top schools in Singapore.
Yet, its rich Chinese heritage and diverse academic pursuits have also garnered some myths surrounding the school, of which we will tackle the most prominent ones today. Read on further to find out if what you have heard is true!
Table of Contents
Debunking Stereotypes
1. “Hwa Chong is a very ‘Chinese’ school and it’ll be hard to fit in as a non-Chinese”
2. “The academics are hard, and JAE students will have a disadvantage in learning”
3. “JAE students have a harder time getting into CCAs compared to IP students”
4. “Hwa Chong is a place of elitism”
Debunked #1:
“Hwa Chong is a very ‘Chinese’ school and it’ll be hard to fit in as a non-Chinese”
Well, let’s dissect the myth into 2 first — the truths and the non-truths.
The truth: One-third of HCI’s student population comes from the High School, which is a Special Assistance Plan (SAP) school. Meaning, the High School side has a special responsibility to promote Chinese traditional culture and values to help students master their mother tongue (Source: Today Online News). This also entails taking Higher Chinese to be compulsory — therefore the High School side does not offer other Mother Tongues aside from Higher Chinese. Hence, the majority of High School students are ethnically Chinese (though some non-Chinese students take Higher Chinese). It is no wonder why, when the High School students move up to JC, the culture of HCI seems to shift towards a more Chinese one. Additionally, Chinese programmes are definitely more abundant compared to other schools due to programmes like the Bicultural Studies Programme and a very prominent Chinese Drama CCA, which ultimately leads to HCI having a stronger “Chinese” reputation.
The non-truth: However, that being said, this does not imply that the whole of Hwa Chong embodies the “Chinese” identity. Many of my peers who have graduated claim that Hwa Chong is a very diverse environment — some don’t even feel the “Chinese” culture at all! Furthermore, non-Chinese students can also look forward to finding their “home” in the school — after all, all are welcome to apply to HCI after O-levels. Be it your social circle, CCAs, or leadership opportunities, there is no differentiation in treatment and opportunities. I’ve seen Burmese and Malay students thrive in their CCA positions and school lives; therefore you do not have to worry about the environment — just be your true self!
Debunked #2:
“The academics are hard, and JAE students will have a disadvantage in learning”
The truth: When it comes to A-level academics, the difficulty level of all the subjects inevitably turns up a notch. Personally, it was a huge jump from secondary school to JC since the rigour of learning and the intensity of examinations became much higher. Nevertheless, this is not a unique factor of HCI; almost all my friends hailing from different JCs have noted the increase in workload and difficulty of our subjects.
The non-truth: Nonetheless, some might worry about the learning gap between IP students and JAE students. Especially in JC1, certain topics require a previous understanding of concepts taught in Sec 4 IP (like Chemistry, Maths and GP), which might seem daunting.
Example:
- Chemistry: Atomic orbitals: 1s², 2s², 2p⁶
- Math: Vectors
- GP: AQ in Paper 2 (comprehension)
However, the teachers are well-aware of this and ensure that they take it into account when delivering their lesson and deciding the lesson pace. Furthermore, should you have any trouble, the teachers are very open to having consultations! Hwa Chong has MANY consultation areas.
Debunked #3:
“JAE students have a harder time getting into CCAs compared to IP students”
The non-truth: Not to worry, let’s unpack why people think so, and why this is false!
Firstly, across all JCs with IP students, Ip students are required to “start school” earlier than JAE students (since JAE students are still waiting for their postings). During this time, some CCAs might have “Open Trainings”, where IP students join certain CCAs during their training (normally sports related) and even attain a place if the CCAs find them compatible. So, it might seem like IP students are taking up places in some CCAs and reducing the places for JAE students.
Nevertheless, JAE students need not worry because your choices and chances of getting into a CCA are secured by various implementations! Firstly, there are many CCAs in HCI to cater to everyone; secondly, many CCAs start recruitment only in March, which by that time, JAE students would have come in already; lastly, most CCAs have a certain quota to hit when it comes to recruiting JAE students, so JAE students are welcome to sign up! To add on, some CCAs don’t even have a fixed quota of students to take in — as long as you are compatible with the CCA, they will take you in!
Debunked #4:
“Hwa Chong is a place of elitism”
The truth: Hwa Chong does have certain students who come from a wealthier/influential background, creating an illusion that this represents the demographic of the whole school. The second type of elitism might manifest itself more as a mindset and attitude. After all, with the prestige associated with HCI, along with the opportunities, it might seem to create a mini-society of students who assume they are “better” and so forth.
The non-truth: Yet, it is important to note that all schools experience this phenomenon to a certain extent — every school has its fair share of more privileged students, as well as students who might hold on to the “prestige” as part of their identity. But what I can assure you is that HCI’s school culture is more of a community than an individual one. What do I mean? From what I see, instead of focusing on individual merits and comparing with others, we are bonded more by interests, classes, values and non-material ideals, as promoted by the huge variety of class activities, faculty events and school ventures. Especially for my CCA, I hit the jackpot when it came to finding a close-knitted family — despite coming from different schools and backgrounds, it was our passion for the CCA that made us click instantly. Regardless of where we hailed from, it was our interests and personalities that brought us together. Hence while the problem of elitism still exists in everyday society (not just in HCI), the greater focus on school culture and not on self would reduce the effects of elitism to a certain extent.
Conclusion
And with that, we have ended our 4 major stereotypes related to Hwa Chong! Remember, some stereotypes stem from origins that apply to all schools, so take what you hear with a pinch of salt. At the end of the day, be it HCI or any other school, you are what you make of the education journey, not the stereotypes themselves, so go forth and follow your heart!
Before you go…
If you have any questions relating to this article or requests for future topics, do not hesitate to contact us through Email or Instagram. 😄
