A Tribute to our beloved PE Teacher - Mr Foo Chee Chiang

As former students of Mr Foo Chee Chiang, we dedicate this article to honouring a larger-than-life PE teacher who has devoted nearly five decades to upholding the profession. Through our reflections, we hope to offer a glimpse into the development of PE in Singapore and highlight the multifaceted roles played by physical educators in Chinese-medium schools since the 1950s.

Mr. Foo Chee Chiang’s passion for sport began during his school years at The Chinese High School  (1955 to 1960), where he represented the school in the Chinese Schools Combined Sports Meet and achieved success in the pole vault event.

In 1959, when Singapore was granted full internal self-government, the Chinese Schools Combined Sports Meet evolved into inter-school competitions across different districts, eventually becoming the National Inter-School Games. These events, which included track and field, swimming, and various other sports, provided a platform for students to showcase their talents and foster competition between schools.

Despite limited resources, Chinese-medium schools have long emphasised the importance of a holistic education that includes moral, intellectual, aesthetic, social, and physical development (德、智、美、群、体). Particularly during the colonial period before Singapore’s independence in 1965, some of these schools even stipulated that passing PE was a prerequisite for progression.

After completing his pre-university education, Mr. Foo attended the Teacher Training College and began his teaching career in Chinese-medium primary schools from 1961 to 1973. At that time, qualified PE teachers in Chinese-medium secondary schools were predominantly graduates from mainland China and Taiwan, while locally aspiring teachers received their training at the Teacher Training College.

In 1978, the Public Service Commission introduced teaching scholarships for PE degree studies in Taiwan, later expanding to the United Kingdom by the mid-1980s. A significant milestone in professional PE training came with the establishment of the College of Physical Education in 1984, underscoring Singapore’s commitment to preparing future PE educators with specialised expertise in pedagogy, sports science, and related fields.

Mr. Foo’s teaching career at Hwa Chong Junior College (HCJC) spans from 1974 to 2002, after which he returned as a PE staff member from 2006 to 2012, dedicating nearly 50 years to education.

Upon joining HCJC in 1974, Mr. Foo taught PE and was the teacher-in-charge for the volleyball, table tennis, and squash teams. He also coached the table-tennis and volleyball teams until the early 1990s, enjoying a strong rapport with his students. 

The HCJC PE department provided students with a comprehensive curriculum, co-curricular activities, and sports events to promote physical activity. Among the most memorable programmes was the Malaysia-Thailand trips for student athletes, which strengthened student-teacher bonds and offered valuable sparring opportunities with regional school teams.  

The department also organised the annual Youth Leadership Training Camp during the March school holidays, promoting outdoor education. Held at Pulau Tekong from the mid-1970s until its redevelopment for military training in the 1990s, this 10-day camp saw Mr. Foo serving as ‘master chef,’ overseeing a team of student cooks who prepared meals for the participants.

To further cultivate a sporting culture, the college’s PE department launched the National Inter-Schools Sports Quiz for primary and secondary schools. Initially supported by the Bukit Timah Community Development Council in 2001, it later partnered with Northwest Community Development Council and Singapore Sports Council from 2002 to 2010. Mr. Foo played an instrumental role in the organising committee during his tenure at HCJC.

A defining moment in Mr. Foo’s career came in 2010 when Singapore hosted the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG). Nine students from Hwa Chong Institution represented Singapore at the event. During the YOG, the PE department also hosted an international twinning camp for students from China, Korea, and Indonesia, further strengthening cross-cultural sporting ties.