Genesis
The idea of Victoria Junior College was first mooted in the 1970s by distinguished Victorians such as Mr Wong Hung Khim, Mr Foo Kok Swee and Mr Ong Teong Pin. With their unstinting support and the help of the Victoria Advisory Committee, the proposal written by the late Dr Ong Chit Chung to the Ministry of Education became reality when the college received its first batch of students in 1
984 under the leadership of Victoria Junior College's first principal, Mrs Lee Phui Mun. Singapore's eleventh junior college received its first batch of students in 1984. Legacies
The first batch of 776 students and 51 teachers set the standards and left their mark on the college in many ways. Among the legacies left behind by these students are the college uniform design and fine traditions such as the senior-meet-junior sessions and annual election of Student Councillors. They were also instrumental in establishing the sense of loyalty and support for the college expressed in the Victorian Spirit. Under the guidance of their teachers, this pioneering batch of students produced outstanding results at the 1985 โAโ level examinations. When the results were released in 1986, Victoria Junior College was instantly placed among the top junior colleges in Singapore. A number of pioneers were also awarded local and overseas scholarships to pursue higher education, setting yet another fine tradition that has been emulated by succeeding generations of Victorians. Vanguard
Victoria Junior College has been at the forefront in implementing some of the new initiatives in the Singapore education system. It was the first and, until 2005, only junior college to offer the Theatre Studies and Drama programme (established in 1989).The VJC Choir was the first school choir from Singapore to win an international choir competition in Wales in 1991, while the VJC symphonic band became Singaporeโs first school band to be invited to perform at the prestigious Japan Band Clinic the following year. With the opening of the East Zone Science and Technology Centre in 2002, VJC became the centre of research in Science and Technology for East Zone schools. The college also sent first Singapore school team to participate in the International Science and Engineering Fair in 2004. Pressing On
The end of 2001 was also a watershed in the history of VJC as the college saw its first leadership transition from Mrs Lee Phui Mun, to her successor Mrs Chan Khah Gek, herself a former chemistry teacher in the early years of our history. Mrs Chan has continued the tradition of placing VJC at the forefront of educational initiatives, with the college winning a host of awards in her recent years. The first batch of students under the Victoria Integrated Programme in 2005 represents another significant milestone. In 2007, the College bade a fond farewell to Mrs Chan as she left for her new appointment as the Deputy Director, Sciences, Curriculum Planning and Development Division. Mr Chan Poh Meng, formerly a Superintendent at the Schools Division, took over the reins from Mrs Chan. In the same year, VJC received the School Excellence Award. This is the highest and most prestigious award in the MOE Masterplan of Awards framework and serves as a mark of distinction for schools that have achieved sustained achievements in a wide spectrum of student development processes. Under Mr Chan's leadership, VJC has continued its tradition of excellence. Its outstanding systems and processes were recognised in the renewal of the Singapore Quality Class status in 2008.
