First Asian Principal of ACS
Legislative Council/ Legislative Assembly member

Born in Medan, Sumatra, Thio and his elder brother were sent to Singapore to study in ACS in 1915. Despite the challenges faced during this period, Thio kept himself going with the motto ‘Labor Omnia Vincit' (Work overcomes everything) and he found strength in the Christian faith. Through sheer determination and diligence, Thio topped the Junior and Senior Cambridge examinations in 1919 and 1920.

After graduation, Thio joined ACS as a teacher, where he aimed to help poor but bright students continue with their studies, and to inspire his students to excel in whatever they did. His formula for success was summarised in the following words:

Aspiration...Inspiration...Perspiration...Perseverance

After the Japanese Occupation, Thio was appointed an inspector of schools and tasked with reorganising and rehabilitating schools in post-war Singapore. He also became involved in politics when he was appointed to the Governor's Advisory Council in 1947. Subsequently, Thio joined the Progressive Party and served as Vice President at various times between 1948 and 1955. In 1958, Thio joined the Singapore People's Alliance and was politically active up to 1968.

Thio's greatest contribution was, however, in the field of education. After his stint as inspector, Thio re-joined ACS and was appointed Vice-Principal in 1947. In 1952, Thio became Pprincipal of ACS, the first Asian to hold this position. As Principal, Thio made significant contributions; he established a School Welfare Council, initiated two large scale building projects and advocated counselling and guidance over corporal punishment as a means of helping students.

Between 1964 and 1970, Thio served as Education Secretary for all the Methodist schools in Singapore and Malaysia. During his tenure, he initiated a Principals' Conference as a platform for Methodist school principals to interact and keep up to date with relevant church policies.

Dr Lee Suan Yew, Chairman of the Board of Management of ACS (I) (1990-1995) recalled in an oral history interview with the National Archives in 2000, “Dr Thio was a remarkable man. He was a very devout Christian and a moral rearmament. He was strict but had a lot of compassion for the students. He knew all our names and would call us to the office to chit chat with us”.

First Asian Principal of ACS
Legislative Council/ Legislative Assembly member

Born in Medan, Sumatra, Thio and his elder brother were sent to Singapore to study in ACS in 1915. Despite the challenges faced during this period, Thio kept himself going with the motto ‘Labor Omnia Vincit' (Work overcomes everything) and he found strength in the Christian faith. Through sheer determination and diligence, Thio topped the Junior and Senior Cambridge examinations in 1919 and 1920.

After graduation, Thio joined ACS as a teacher, where he aimed to help poor but bright students continue with their studies, and to inspire his students to excel in whatever they did. His formula for success was summarised in the following words:

Aspiration...Inspiration...Perspiration...Perseverance

After the Japanese Occupation, Thio was appointed an inspector of schools and tasked with reorganising and rehabilitating schools in post-war Singapore. He also became involved in politics when he was appointed to the Governor's Advisory Council in 1947. Subsequently, Thio joined the Progressive Party and served as Vice President at various times between 1948 and 1955. In 1958, Thio joined the Singapore People's Alliance and was politically active up to 1968.

Thio's greatest contribution was, however, in the field of education. After his stint as inspector, Thio re-joined ACS and was appointed Vice-Principal in 1947. In 1952, Thio became Pprincipal of ACS, the first Asian to hold this position. As Principal, Thio made significant contributions; he established a School Welfare Council, initiated two large scale building projects and advocated counselling and guidance over corporal punishment as a means of helping students.

Between 1964 and 1970, Thio served as Education Secretary for all the Methodist schools in Singapore and Malaysia. During his tenure, he initiated a Principals' Conference as a platform for Methodist school principals to interact and keep up to date with relevant church policies.

Dr Lee Suan Yew, Chairman of the Board of Management of ACS (I) (1990-1995) recalled in an oral history interview with the National Archives in 2000, “Dr Thio was a remarkable man. He was a very devout Christian and a moral rearmament. He was strict but had a lot of compassion for the students. He knew all our names and would call us to the office to chit chat with us”.

First Asian Principal of ACS
Legislative Council/ Legislative Assembly member

Born in Medan, Sumatra, Thio and his elder brother were sent to Singapore to study in ACS in 1915. Despite the challenges faced during this period, Thio kept himself going with the motto ‘Labor Omnia Vincit' (Work overcomes everything) and he found strength in the Christian faith. Through sheer determination and diligence, Thio topped the Junior and Senior Cambridge examinations in 1919 and 1920.

After graduation, Thio joined ACS as a teacher, where he aimed to help poor but bright students continue with their studies, and to inspire his students to excel in whatever they did. His formula for success was summarised in the following words:

Aspiration...Inspiration...Perspiration...Perseverance

After the Japanese Occupation, Thio was appointed an inspector of schools and tasked with reorganising and rehabilitating schools in post-war Singapore. He also became involved in politics when he was appointed to the Governor's Advisory Council in 1947. Subsequently, Thio joined the Progressive Party and served as Vice President at various times between 1948 and 1955. In 1958, Thio joined the Singapore People's Alliance and was politically active up to 1968.

Thio's greatest contribution was, however, in the field of education. After his stint as inspector, Thio re-joined ACS and was appointed Vice-Principal in 1947. In 1952, Thio became Pprincipal of ACS, the first Asian to hold this position. As Principal, Thio made significant contributions; he established a School Welfare Council, initiated two large scale building projects and advocated counselling and guidance over corporal punishment as a means of helping students.

Between 1964 and 1970, Thio served as Education Secretary for all the Methodist schools in Singapore and Malaysia. During his tenure, he initiated a Principals' Conference as a platform for Methodist school principals to interact and keep up to date with relevant church policies.

Dr Lee Suan Yew, Chairman of the Board of Management of ACS (I) (1990-1995) recalled in an oral history interview with the National Archives in 2000, “Dr Thio was a remarkable man. He was a very devout Christian and a moral rearmament. He was strict but had a lot of compassion for the students. He knew all our names and would call us to the office to chit chat with us”.

First Asian Principal of ACS
Legislative Council/ Legislative Assembly member

Born in Medan, Sumatra, Thio and his elder brother were sent to Singapore to study in ACS in 1915. Despite the challenges faced during this period, Thio kept himself going with the motto ‘Labor Omnia Vincit' (Work overcomes everything) and he found strength in the Christian faith. Through sheer determination and diligence, Thio topped the Junior and Senior Cambridge examinations in 1919 and 1920.

After graduation, Thio joined ACS as a teacher, where he aimed to help poor but bright students continue with their studies, and to inspire his students to excel in whatever they did. His formula for success was summarised in the following words:

Aspiration...Inspiration...Perspiration...Perseverance

After the Japanese Occupation, Thio was appointed an inspector of schools and tasked with reorganising and rehabilitating schools in post-war Singapore. He also became involved in politics when he was appointed to the Governor's Advisory Council in 1947. Subsequently, Thio joined the Progressive Party and served as Vice President at various times between 1948 and 1955. In 1958, Thio joined the Singapore People's Alliance and was politically active up to 1968.

Thio's greatest contribution was, however, in the field of education. After his stint as inspector, Thio re-joined ACS and was appointed Vice-Principal in 1947. In 1952, Thio became Pprincipal of ACS, the first Asian to hold this position. As Principal, Thio made significant contributions; he established a School Welfare Council, initiated two large scale building projects and advocated counselling and guidance over corporal punishment as a means of helping students.

Between 1964 and 1970, Thio served as Education Secretary for all the Methodist schools in Singapore and Malaysia. During his tenure, he initiated a Principals' Conference as a platform for Methodist school principals to interact and keep up to date with relevant church policies.

Dr Lee Suan Yew, Chairman of the Board of Management of ACS (I) (1990-1995) recalled in an oral history interview with the National Archives in 2000, “Dr Thio was a remarkable man. He was a very devout Christian and a moral rearmament. He was strict but had a lot of compassion for the students. He knew all our names and would call us to the office to chit chat with us”.

First Asian Principal of ACS
Legislative Council/ Legislative Assembly member

Born in Medan, Sumatra, Thio and his elder brother were sent to Singapore to study in ACS in 1915. Despite the challenges faced during this period, Thio kept himself going with the motto ‘Labor Omnia Vincit' (Work overcomes everything) and he found strength in the Christian faith. Through sheer determination and diligence, Thio topped the Junior and Senior Cambridge examinations in 1919 and 1920.

After graduation, Thio joined ACS as a teacher, where he aimed to help poor but bright students continue with their studies, and to inspire his students to excel in whatever they did. His formula for success was summarised in the following words:

Aspiration...Inspiration...Perspiration...Perseverance

After the Japanese Occupation, Thio was appointed an inspector of schools and tasked with reorganising and rehabilitating schools in post-war Singapore. He also became involved in politics when he was appointed to the Governor's Advisory Council in 1947. Subsequently, Thio joined the Progressive Party and served as Vice President at various times between 1948 and 1955. In 1958, Thio joined the Singapore People's Alliance and was politically active up to 1968.

Thio's greatest contribution was, however, in the field of education. After his stint as inspector, Thio re-joined ACS and was appointed Vice-Principal in 1947. In 1952, Thio became Pprincipal of ACS, the first Asian to hold this position. As Principal, Thio made significant contributions; he established a School Welfare Council, initiated two large scale building projects and advocated counselling and guidance over corporal punishment as a means of helping students.

Between 1964 and 1970, Thio served as Education Secretary for all the Methodist schools in Singapore and Malaysia. During his tenure, he initiated a Principals' Conference as a platform for Methodist school principals to interact and keep up to date with relevant church policies.

Dr Lee Suan Yew, Chairman of the Board of Management of ACS (I) (1990-1995) recalled in an oral history interview with the National Archives in 2000, “Dr Thio was a remarkable man. He was a very devout Christian and a moral rearmament. He was strict but had a lot of compassion for the students. He knew all our names and would call us to the office to chit chat with us”.