SINGAPORE: Eugene Wijeysingha, the former headmaster of Raffles Institution (RI), has died at age 90.
Wijeysingha, whose career in education spans 35 years, served as RI principal from 1986 to 1994.
The institution said he played a pivotal role in leading the school to independence and coordinated the school’s relocation to the Bishan campus in 1990.
RI announced his passing in a Facebook post on Saturday (Mar 2), describing him as a visionary who fostered discipline, academic excellence and a vibrant school spirit.
Wijeysingha was also known for his passion for preserving the school’s history. He wrote a book titled The Eagle Breeds a Gryphon, which chronicled the school’s rich history from 1823 to 2003.
“He will be fondly remembered as a man for the people, and his legacy will continue to live on in the students and staff who were touched by his leadership, and those who were privileged to have crossed paths with him,” said the institution.
Born in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, in 1934 to Sri Lankan immigrant parents, Wijeysingha migrated to Singapore with his family in 1949.
He started receiving education in Singapore at St Joseph’s Institution here. He later completed his studies at the University of Malaya through a government bursary, which obligated him to teach for five years post-graduation.
His journey in education started as a teacher at RI in 1959.
Before returning to RI to helm the school almost three decades later, Wijeysingha served as principal at Changkat Changi Secondary School in 1967, and Temasek Junior College (TJC) in 1980.
In between the tenures, he also held several positions in the Ministry of Education, such as assistant director of education and deputy director for school organisation.
TRIBUTES FROM TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
Tributes started pouring in from teachers and Rafflesians, both past and present, on social media, mostly expressing their fondest thoughts and memories of the late historian.
One of them was Dr Adrian W J Kuah, who joined the school as a student in 1986, the same year Wijeysingha had become principal. Dr Kuah told TODAY: “To me, the school loomed larger than life, and I felt woefully inadequate. During orientation, I think he caught a glimpse of how nervous I was.
“He winked at me and ruefully said, ‘It will be OK. We are both new boys,’ as if to say, I’m as nervous as you.”
Dr Kuah, now director of the National University of Singapore’s Futures Office, added that Wijeysingha’s action of seeing himself as a new boy was an act of humility. “(Wijeysingha acknowledged) that he had been away so long that he would consider himself a new boy with no sense of entitlement.”
A teacher who worked under him since 1992, Mr Edward De Cruz, said on Facebook that Wijeysingha inspired confidence in both staff and students during his time.
“A noble, patient, inspiring and dedicated Headmaster is difficult to find. He was one. He guided many a teacher, like me, to greater heights of performance. It was a pleasure to work under him from 1992.
“When he retired, I, like most others who know him, found in him a good friend and mentor. I will miss him dearly.”
TJC advisory committee chairman Dr Bernard Thong also took to Facebook to post his condolences on behalf of the alumni and committee, saying that Wijeysingha was a “special, fatherly figure who was firm yet endearing in his ways.”
“… The office door (was) always open for us to seek his wise guidance or even just for a chat. He respected the students as young adults, and entrusted the student leaders to organise and run the many projects and activities… at our Bedok campus.
“In return, we worked hard, played hard and gave our best to help make TJC what it is today.”
This article was originally published in TODAY.