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Edit (14th July, 12:02am) - This was on the news on Monday.. A must-watch indeed. Don't you agree with my two ex-tutors (who have since left HC ) on FB?

Ms Lin - hahahahahahah she actually could say it with a straight face!!
Mr R. - ya ya!!! that was my EXACT sentiment too! i wonder if she actually believed it. she can't be THAT blur.... right??

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Via Channel Newsasia -

Hwa Chong Institution started school two hours later for World Cup finale
By Alvina Soh | Posted: 12 July 2010 1638 hrs

SINGAPORE: Hwa Chong Institution students were able to catch both the World Cup finals and some sleep by coming to school two hours later than usual on Monday.

The idea was suggested by its student council following an online survey in which 95 per cent of students voted in favour of starting school later.

The student council proposed starting school at 9am by doing away the daily flag raising ceremony and morning reading session.

The proposal was approved. And on Monday students were able to catch some sleep after the Spain-Holland match, which ended at 4.30am, before heading to school.

Although most students were in favour of starting classes later, there were others who felt it was inconvenient because school will end later as a result.

One student, Timothy Yap, said: "It was a feasible proposal because after all students have to get up so early in the morning and they have to stay until 2.30am to watch the World Cup. They won't be able to focus on the curriculum and their lessons either."

Russell Corr, a teacher at Hwa Chong Institution, said: "I could come into work an hour later and that was great. With Spain winning as well, I'm very very happy this morning."

This arrangement of starting lessons later than usual only applied to those in the high school.

Those in college started school as usual as the students wanted to focus more on their upcoming tests instead of the World Cup finals.

Just a few things to point out in this report.

Firstly, do they mean that only the High School council took the initiative to sound out the response from students? What happened to our College council? Presumably either too engrossed in preparing for Promos (that are like two months away..) or they aren't a huge fan of twenty two men chasing a lightweight ball that changes trajectory unpredictably.

Or maybe they aren't too fond of the exploits of certain Octopuses and Parakeets.

Next, the match did not end at 0430hrs as reported. I caught the match and the live coverage only culminated with wild Spanish celebrations at 0530hrs, just the time I would usually get out of bed on a typical schooling weekday.

Lastly, the closing two paragraphs (probably the official school stand that was conveyed to the media) left lots of people rather stunned in utter disbelief. How plausible is it that ALL students are that hardworking (especially when the block tests had just ended not too long ago). The top brass' really living in their own perfect world it seems.

And now we are inadvertently reinforcing the public's perception that we are an 'elite, uncaring school' filled to the brim with bookworms who have absolutely no life - as compared to the stylish hunks and babes over at Bishan who not only get to work hard, but play hard as well.

Let me think of any reason why College did not enjoy the two hour reprieve that the High School side was granted.

Lessons start at 0800hrs instead of 0900hrs over at the College side. This brings about a huge problem as everyone will miss the first hour of lessons, which have to be made up for in the rest of the week. And given the importance HC places on Monday timetables (usually when a public holiday falls on a Monday the whole timetable is transplanted onto another day, usually Thursday as it is the shortest day for many of us). Well, maybe the administrative nightmares that such a sudden transition will cause weighed heavily on their minds.

Then again they could just shift everything back by an hour and everything will be alright.

So is this a case of double standards? Everyone eagerly awaits the school's response to the frenzied backlash this gaffe has provoked online on both blogs and social-networking sites.

In closing, I really emphatise with my juniors who have to drag themselves to school after staying up to catch the final. Undeniably, this World Cup has captured the public's imagination especially with all the upsets, the exploits of a swashbuckling German squad and the revelations concerning both the German Paul and 'Uniquely Singapore'-an Mani.

As I stayed up late last night, I can't help but feel thankful for the off-in-lieu I was granted in recognition of my involvement in Saturday's show. It was worth it after all, a once-in-four-years experience savouring the sights and sounds of the greatest sporting spectacle on Planet Earth - in the comfort of my own home with a chilled beer on standby. No doubt life seemed good at least for that three hours.