EtonHouse, Chinese High School to open jointly-managed international school in 2016

The Singapore Chinese High School and EtonHouse Group will open a jointly-managed international school in 2016. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
The Singapore Chinese High School and EtonHouse Group will open a jointly-managed international school in 2016. -- PHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - The Singapore Chinese High School and EtonHouse Group will open a jointly-managed international school in 2016.

The new Hwa Chong Etonhouse Institution will have a preschool and primary school curriculum that follows the International Baccalaureate programme.

This was disclosed at a press conference on Thursday led by board members from the two parties.

Mrs Ng Gim Choo, managing director of EtonHouse Group, said the new international school will take in its first batch of about 300 pupils in August 2016. They will be a mix of preschoolers and Primary 1 pupils. The intake will be increased at a steady state to about 800 pupils.

The new school will target those who speak both English and Mandarin and will offer a bilingual curriculum. This means that subjects such as math and science will be taught in both languages, said Mrs Ng, speaking at EtonHouse's international preschool branch in Thomson Lane.

Parents can expect to pay between $15,000 and $20,000 for a year in the school, with the preschool programme being more expensive that the primary school, said Mrs Ng.

As a gauge, EtonHouse's international preschool in Thomson charges a monthly school fee of about $1,900.

While the new preschool will take in both Singaporean and foreign students, it is mandatory for local students to attend a mainstream primary school run by the Ministry of Education when they turn seven.

But it is the partners' hope that those who graduate from the new international school will move on to Hwa Chong International School, Mrs Ng said.

Mr Robson Lee, secretary of the board of directors for Singapore Chinese High School, said the new international school will be located in the Bukit Timah area, near the Hwa Chong Institution's campus on Bukit Timah Road. He did not elaborate.

The Singapore Chinese High School is the parent company of Hwa Chong Institution and Hwa Chong International School.

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