Pioneer Junior College

Foundation years

Pioneer Junior College was established on 2 January 2000, with the pioneering principal, Mr. Kwek Hiok Chuang making the news as Singapore's youngest appointed principal for the past few decades.^[1] The college initially functioned from the campus of the former French-German Institute of Singapore, along Science Centre Road.^[2] The College relocated to the current permanent campus at 21 Teck Whye Walk in December 2004. The College was officially declared open by Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, then acting Minister of Education on 20 February 2004.

Sixty-two teachers and executive and administrative staff, and two students, were the first batch of Pioneers of Pioneer Junior College (the "Pioneer Pioneers"). Students were involved in the formation of the college rules and the design of the college crest and uniform. The college's vision and mission statements were formally endorsed on 31 August 2000 by the College Advisory Committee, students' parents, the staff and students. In the subsequent year, on 8 August 2001, the college anthem and flag were formally adopted by the college community.

On 25 February 2002, PJC became the first junior college to launch its own satellite ground receiving station. Its inaugural College Day was held on 26 April 2002 to award deserving pioneers who had contributed in one way or another to the college. The guest-of-honour was the Chairman of the College Advisory Committee, Professor Phua Kok Khoo.

Integration of Jurong Junior College

On 20 April 2017, it was announced that Jurong Junior College will be integrated into Pioneer Junior College with effect from January 2019, with the new name as Jurong Pioneer Junior College, which is a combination of the two schools' names. JJC's current principal, Dr Hang Kim Hoo, will take over as the principal of Jurong Pioneer Junior College.^[3][4] This was in view of the declining enrollment into junior colleges since 2014, attributed to the fall in Singapore's birth rate.^[5] The merger process is to be completed by January 2019.^[4]

College insignia

Pioneer Junior College's insignia was designed by its pioneer batch of students in 2001. The 62° angle of the white part of the college crest in between the black and red parts correspond to the 62 staff serving in the college when it was first established.^[2]

Uniform

Pioneer Junior College's uniform was designed by its pioneer batch of students in 2001. The current uniform is a white shirt/blouse and black pants/skirt. Students wear a grey tie every Monday. During other official events, students don grey blazers and ties.^[2]

House system

There are six Houses under PJC House System, Owens, Byron, Darwin, Keller, Nobel and Polo, all named after Pioneers who have made an indelible mark in their field.

Students are allocated a house based on their civics grouping (classes). Competition among the six Houses takes place when the student executive committee takes up office-bearer positions. The competition includes events like the Inter-House Games (both sports and non-sports) and National Physical Fitness Award (NAPFA) test. The overall champion of all these events is awarded the Inter-House Challenge Trophy at the end of each office-bearer year. The House system seeks to encourage bonding between students and ultimately promote college spirit.

Ngee Ann Kong Si Library

The Ngee Ann Kong Si Library, the library of the College, features private consultants rooms within the library, each furnished with tables, chairs and a whiteboard. The library is also furnished with study cubicles, where students can study independently during breaks, after school or during night study sessions.^[6]

The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary, an air-conditioned facility located above the Ngee Ann Kong Si Auditorium, is a dedicated student activity space operated by the College's student council. The dedicated area features couches and designs. Students can visit the Sanctuary during opening hours determined by the student councillors.

Other facilities include the netball court, squash court, futsal court, basketball court, 8-lane track, field and the gym.

Language Elective Programmes

Pioneer Junior College offers the Malay Language Elective Programme (MLEP) The Chinese Language Elective Programme (CLEP), which will be migrated from Jurong Junior College, will be offered at the College from January 2019.^[7]