Chung Wah School · 中华学校
Our story.
A school begun by the Chinese Community of Honiara in 1949, opened to students of every background in the 1970s, and still carrying the lion it started with.
Our heritage
Rooted in community, growing with Honiara.
Chung Wah School was founded by the Chinese Community of Honiara, and has grown from an infant of one classroom into the school it is today.
The Chinese population settled along the banks of the Mataniko River and put up stores. Educational opportunities were very scarce, with untrained teachers and very limited resources.
The Resident Commissioner, ordering a suit at Quan Park Yee's tailor shop, noticed Chinese children playing in the street and asked why they were not in school. Parents were consulted, and the Public Works Department was asked for timber and roofing iron.
The school was officially opened by Acting Resident Commissioner J. D. A. Germond. Two days later, 26 pupils in new uniforms started classes in the new building. It was established, organized and financed by Chinese residents; the largest individual donor was the late Chan Cheong, among early pioneers including Leong Tong, Ho Kee, Quan Toon, Sze Tu Ming, Leong Hang, Lo See War and Woy Yiu.
Chung Wah is registered as a school.
The whole school was taught by only one teacher. Teaching was in English in the mornings and in Cantonese in the afternoons — all subjects in Chinese, except, of course, for English. The first Chinese teacher was Mr Wong Ting Fong, newly arrived from China; the first English teacher, Mrs V. Anderson, was recruited from the United Kingdom.
The first intake of Solomon Islands students. More equipment and resources became available, some locally-recruited teachers joined the staff, and more classrooms were added — standing as a tribute to their donors.
Chung Wah had grown from an infant of one classroom to twelve classrooms housing standards one to six and three pre-school classrooms, with a student body of 500. The first issue of Lion Tales, our school newspaper, was published.
Mandarin becomes the Chinese taught at Chung Wah, where previously only Cantonese was taught.
A new classroom block — the building Chung Wah uses today — was funded by donations from the Solomon Islands Chinese Association, the school board, and businesses and families across Honiara.
The lion
Why a lion?
“As our lion logo depicts pride and strength and a sure knowledge that it will succeed, what better symbol could we have to model our learning on?”
Lion Tales No. 1, December 1992
饮水思源 · Remember the source
The people who built the school we use today.
In 2019 a new classroom block — the building Chung Wah teaches in today — was paid for by donations from across Honiara. The plaque inside the school records every name.
Solomon Islands Chinese Association 所罗门群岛中华总会
- Matthew Quan
- David Quan
- Shilling Wong
- Wendy Ho
- Sam Tan
- Benz Hung
- Henry Ma
- Kevin Leong
- Solo Lai
- Johnny Szu Tu
- Francis Chow
- George Wu
- Austin Yam
- Meili Hu Kwan
- Charlie Zhang
- Nick Hu
- Jackie Chan
- Stanly Zheng
School Board 学校董事会
- Antonio Lee
- Eddy Leung
- Wendy Ho
- Kwan Hu Meili
Donors
Chung Wah School principal, teachers, staff, students and parents
- Lee Kwok Kuen and family
- Ming Sing Lionel Ho and family
- Simon Leung and family
- Kwan Chungheung and family
- Pauling Ho Wu
- Jason Lee
- Andy Leung
- William Kwan
- MAS Shopping
- Low Price Enterprise
- Mathew C M Tsang
- ABA Store
- Air Niugini
- AJ Hardware
- AJL Hardware (Henry Ma)
- Albert Wong
- Allen Kemakeza
- Anne & Thomas Cheung
- Automate · Hans Holdings Limited
- Ben Rapeiasi
- Boss Corporation
- C&J Store
- Canada Sunny
- Canny Lee Kwok Wing
- Carpenters Shipping Honiara — Nicholas Wong
- Catherine Yip
- Central Developments Limited — Stanley Goh
- CFAF
- Compass Company
- Coral Seas Ltd (Jeff Moore)
- D&L
- Diana Ho
- Dickson Technology Company
- Discount Electricals
- DJ Graphics
- Dr Derek Sikua
- E-Mart
- Evelyn Shop
- Fairyland Restaurant
- FJ Store
- Fly Kai Bar
- Friendly Bakery
- Fun Cafe
- George & Kapita Leong
- Good Luck
- H.S.I Shop
- Happy Shop
- Harvest Kai Bar
- Helen Yee
- Helicopter Support
- HM Long
- Hon Jackson Fiulaua
- Honiara Hotel
- Hotas Enterprises Inc Japan
- Hugo Canning
- Island Clothing
- Island Moon
- IT & M
- Jennifer Szetu Lau
- JH Co Ltd
- JMY Enterprise
- Johnson Siapu
- Joy Li
- JQY Enterprises
- Junction Fast Food
- Xim Hing HK Trader
- L & J Ltd
- L&Q
- LEL Clothing
- Lesley Teama
- Lin Trading (SI) Co., Ltd
- LP Nora
- Lucas Kevin Ho
- Lucky Enterprise
- LXC Shop
- LXX Shop
- Mary Chan
- Mary Chow
- Mary Wong
- Melody
- Michael Chan
- Moon Star Ltd
- Mrs Kwan
- Ms Ma
- N. G. Overseas Trading Company
- Nambawan Shop
- New Generation Ltd
- New Hua Co. Ltd
- New Islands
- New Pacific Line
- Nicky’s Fast Food
- Ocean Sky (Mrs Tse)
- OK Mart Ltd
- Our Telekom
- Ox & Palm
- Pacific Automobile — KG
- Paoa FM
- Patrick Leong
- Patrick Wong
- Paul Szetu
- Peter Tsang
- Pingjie Luo
- Pinnacle
- Pioneer Trader Ltd
- Prestige Group SI Limited
- Prime Products Ltd
- Rainbow Shop
- Red Rose
- Rick Zhongji Ma
- Rita Kevesi
- Robert Chow
- Sally Lue
- Sam Wong (Hins Shop)
- Sanbis Resort
- Sea King Restaurant
- Shang’s
- SI Cement
- Simley Giobata
- Sir Peter Kenilorea & Lady Kenilorea
- Sir Thomas Chan
- Solbrew Ltd
- Solomon Airlines
- Sue Yee
- Sullivans Ltd
- Sweetie Kwan Wing Leung Ltd
- Tang S Ent Ltd
- Technique Radio (Ken Chan)
- Tom Wong
- Tongs Corporation
- Triple Star Ltd
- TS Jaya
- TZ Store
- V Fresh
- Vuvula Poultry
- WA Shop
- Wan Jia Kai Bar
- Wings Supermarket
- WM Limited
- WM Shop
- Wu Jootai
- WYL
- XY Shop
- YC Kai Bar
- YJ Store
- Y-Shop
- Yunys
- Zheng Enterprise
- Anonymous donors 无名氏