History of English Schools in Perak

OF
Compiled by E.C. HICKS,
PE
RPUSTAKAAN
NEG
ARAMALAYSI
A
1958
M.A •• O.B.E., P.J.)c.
KP
JB 1781
HISTORY
OF
ENGLISH SCHOOLS
IN PERAK
Compiled by E.C. HICKS,
M.A .. a.B.E.• P.J.K.
PER1958
PUSTAKAAN
NEGARAMALAYSI
A
Published under the auspices of
THE PERAK LIBRARY. IPOH.
KP
JB 1781
CONTENTS
PAGE
Introdnction
V
The Perak Library
1
Education in P erak in the Last Part of the 19th Centlll'Y
4
The 'Engli h School
King Edward
6
Kamunting
VII School Taiping
8
11
Lady 'rreacb er Girls' School, Taiping
Clifford
13
chool, KuaJa Kangsar
Anglo- hine e School, Teluk Anson
16
Anglo-Chine e School, Parit BUl1tar
Anglo-Chinese chool, Ipoh
18
20
Anglo-Chine e Girl'
23
chool, Ipoh
..
The Convent, Taiping
25
Anglo-Chinese School, Kampar
Malay
College~
27
Kuala Kangsar
Government English
30
chool, Tronoh
30
The Convent, Ipoh
31
Sultan Yu ssuf School, Batu Gajah
33
Anderson School, Ipoh
35
St. Mi chael's Instiultion, Ipoh
38
Anglo-Chinese School, Sitiawan
42
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44
Government English School, Gopeng
St. George's Instiultion, Taiping
Government English
..
45
46
chool, Tapah
The Convent, Teluk Anson
47
Iskandar Shah School, Parit
48
The Trade School, Bagan
49
The Trade
Art
erai
chool, Ipoh
50
chools, Perak
Teacher Training in Perak
J..
i
.,
\
52
. ': .;.:1:
l-- . . ...
52
~..
Aided English School s . .
55
Private Eng]i h Schools
55
iii
INTRODUCTION
The late Mr. tlangara Pillai Rajaratnam, :a1.C.H., J.P., was born in Oeylon
on June 17th 1889. He entered the Central School, Taiping in 1904, at a time
when the enrolment in all the Govemment and Aided Engkh school in P erak
amounted to 1,368. In 1912 he pa ssed the teachers' Normal examination, chool
enrolment having by tl1en riRen to some 3,000. H e served as a teacher in three
5chool. - K ing Edward YII School.• 'Iniping, Government English School, Batu
Gajah. and Anderon " chool, Ipoh until he retired in IH3!), by which year el11Xllments in Governments and Aided English ~cbooL had risen to 500, while private
English schools had also been opened and had enrolments of a total of ome
3,000 pupils. Just befure his sudden death in JuJy 195G Mr. Rajaratnam \\"a ~
planning to write a booklet about the English schools in P erak, giving from hi
rich store Ot memori e8 tl1e history of each school dllring the period of 3:- years
when he had known them () well, and \"hen their enrolments had expanded tenfold. There had been a further fouTfold expan ion in t he 17 years since his
retirement, which in it ~ \ray had heen more spect&cuhrr, having been main]
concen trated linto the post-war years. But it was of the earlier period that
Rajaratnam wa.~ better qnalificd to write, and wheu his untimely death prevented
the fulfilm ent of his project I decided to colle t what ma.terial I could find
preserved in records and in the memories of those still alive, in order that the
history of thi interesting period of education might be better known. Govemmnet
reports in the Taiping M:u seum and in the Federal Se~retariat, Kuala Lumpur,
have been the main sources of checking and supplementing accounts which have
been written by pa t and present teachers of the ..chools. Among. t these I hould
mention particularly :NI€ssr s. W. E. P erera, S. RajanayaglUll, Syed Shaidali.
J. M:. Morai , Moissinac Yeoh Teng Khoo, V. Nadason, ~f. E. M:oreira, AbduJ
Hamid Khan, Oolin Campbell K. T. Thomas, Mrs. Navaredrulm, Miss M. Poul ier
Miss . Moreira and the Heads of the Schools concerned. The oTder in which
the accounts are recorded corresponds approximat.ely with the chronological oTder
in which tJle schools were founded. The management of many school s has changed
in the course of years. Private and Mission schools have become Government
schools and vice versa.
Until very recently there ha never been a clear ~ividing line between
Primary and Secondary English schools in P erak. Schools have been comprehensive, that is their a.im has been to start at the lowest standard and to continue
to af' high a standard as possible. Cambridge cla sses for the Prelimina.ry and
Junior Certificate exi ted in Taiping and in Ipoh in t.he fu"St decade of the
twentieth century, but not until after World " ar I were there more than a score
of Senior Certificates crained. By 1937 the number had increased tenfold. the
Oert.ificate having been re-designated as Bchool Oert.ificate. In 1937 the curriciIhwl
of t.wo Ipoh schools includClcl O ~nel"al Science for the first time. Both for girls
and boys the curriculum has been rather Tel'tricted: local and foreign language.
have been studied by onl y a few: provision for Art t.eaching ha.s been spoTadi .
although an expatriate Art teacher \Va. appointed in 1926 : commercial and vocat~ onal trainin~ has not been given much emphasis, although again an expatriate
evertheless developments in the. c
Commercial Master was appointed in 1921.
direction were always urged by enlightened local teachers like Rajamtnam. 'rhe
first full Cambridge Higher Oertificates were gained in 1955 and it is here that
the histories end.
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Boarding hostels have long been a feature of P erak schooL . A sum of
$2,500 for a Malay Boarding House, Larut appeared in the E -timates for the
year 1903. The Malay ReRidential Oollege at Kuala Kangsar, a F ederal
v
Institution, for many years had roughly one third of its enrolment Perak boys.
A hostel for Malay boys at Ipoh was opened in 1921, in which year the first
Special Malll.Y ClasRe>; were opened at King EdwaTd VIT School, Taiping, English
School, Kuala Kangsar and at Anderson School, Ipoh. It is recorded that in
1921 Malays .n umbered 721 out of the total enrolment of some 5,000 in P erak
English schools.
As a teacher Mr. liajaratnam was best known for his out-of-school activities,
amongst which may be mentioned the organisation of sports and games, the
supervision of hostel>; for Malay boy>;, the inauguration of evening adult classe .
and the development of the Perak Library. As Mr. Raja.ratnam latterly had
made the P erak Library the Headquarters for his manifolrl public a.ctivitier, it
has been decided that any profits accuring from the sale of tbis booldet will be
offered to the Perak Library.
I shall be most grateful to receive from readers any correction or additional
material which they ca.l'e to supply.
E. C. HICKS.
c/o P. O. Box 736.
Kuala Lumptil' .
•
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vi
THE
PERAK
LIBRARY
The Perak Library is the culmination of the labour of love of many
spirited and devoted citizens of Ipoh, both past and present. It goes back to
to more than a quarter of a century when its seed was first planted in a room
of the Ipoh Town Hall. Under the aegis of the Ipoh Rotary Club, it was first
called the "Ipoh Juvenile Library", to cater to the needs of school children.
Later at the suggestion of tbe late Mr. S. Rajaratnam, the word "juvenile" was
removed and the library became known as the "Ipoh Library". Adults were
admitted as members, and the committee whicb managed it was mainly composed
of Rotarians.
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After the Liberation, some salvaged books and a few rickety shelves were,
through the courtesy of the Public Relations Department (now Department of
Informatkm), housed in a corner of their office in Brewster Road. With an
energetic committee headed by Dr. Wu Lien-teh, Mr. :M:. S. Mahendran, Mr. J. V.
Morais, Mr. Ung Khek Cheow, Mr. Lee MUll Yui, and many others, efforts
were made to construct a building of its own. After determined attempts, the
present site was acquired from the State Government which also contributed
$25,000.00 towards the building. The public responded witb a similar sum,
and the building committee headed by Dr. Wu Lien-teh went ahead with the
1
task. Originally, it was the aim to have a two-storey building, but as the funds
were not ufficient, the committee decided to commence with the first storey.
The foundation stone was laid by the Mentri Besar of Per'ak, Datoh Panglima
Bukit Gantang, in 1950. The building was ready oon after, and officially
opened by Hi Highne. ., Sir Yu ssuf Izzuddin Shall in 1951.
With the late Mr. Rajaratnam as its President, he was able to approach
and obtain much valuable as istance for the nascent library. Books came pouring
in from the United States I nformation Service, the British Council (which
had a branch in the L ibrary), the Rotary Club of Ipoh, and from source kno"'n
only to Mr. Rajaratnam him~elf. Tamil literature found its place in the library
because of the efforts of Tamil . chool teachers, who put up some Tamil drama
and netted nearly $4,000.00 which they generously handed to the Library. With
books also came book-cases.
The present 'Titer who has been associated with the Library since 1948,
as a member, Committee member and ubsequently its Hon. Secretary is in a
position to Rtate emphatically that largely through the late Mr. Raj aratna m .
Mr. 1f. S. ~fahendran and Datoh Panglima Bukit Gantang, has it been possibl e
to complete the Library project, with the plendid co-operation of the tate
Government and the generous public. In a memorandulll, dated 14th .June,
1954, to the Hon' ble the Mentri Be aI', P erak, Datoh Panglim a Bukit Gantang
t he writer stated inter alia, «. . . . . . The other matter I would like to bring up
again, Sir, i the question of another storey to the P erak Library . . . . .. Owing
to the pres ing need for a hall in Ipoh, the State Government could undertake
the project and meet the demand of the hall-consciou and hall-hungry citizens
of Ipoh . .... . " Fortunately for the Library, the Mentri Besar himself it ·
President, and himself a great lover of books (he possesses one of the finest
private libraries in the country) vhared our aspiration. . Under his in piring
leadership and in valuable a sistance, the second storey wa s completed. For this
we are indebted to the State Government for its gener ous donation of $20,000.00
and an interest-free loan of another $20,000.00.
PERPUSTAKAAN
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2
'rho 'e of us who have follO\Ted its uphill struggle cannot and must
neyer be content. (There was a time not so ver y long ago when ea ch Committee
member had to ad vanc $30.00 to pay the clerk, becausD the coffer s were empty) .
Although we are heartened that we have friends to help us in need, the help
must be con ta.n t and bOlmtiful. '" e wi h to e:xpress our gratitude to U.S.I. S.,
the Ipoh Club, the Rotary lub, the Department of Information, Kuala Lumpur.
t he Au tralia and New Zealand A <ociation and others, for book and magazin e~
r eceived. Th e President, Datoh Panglima Bukit Gan tang, ba placed some
150 books from his referen e library at the di>;posal of members in the Library.
The Gurney Memorial Fund handed nearly $3,000.00 for the establHmlent of
the H enry Gurney :Mem orial Children's ,ection in t he Library. The rughty
Cathay Organ isation and its formidable ri\7al Messrs. Shaw Brothers have assisted
us. Tow-kays Foong Se011g, F oo Yet Kai ($1,000.00 each); Towkays Ong Kong
Tay Chong Kok Lim, Foo Seik Kai, r eh Seng Khoon, Goh Siew Hock and
Datoh Panglima Bukit Gantang ($500.00 each) have been honoured by having
the new lomrre window named after them.
But the story of the Library is an unending story, fol' knowledge InlOW S
no frontiers, nor is it the monopoly of one people. Like the sun it mdiates
its life-giving properties everywhere. We count on all to help in the dissemination of knowledge by giving us the means to accomplish this noble and unselfish
end. The older generation "who have not much time to read" could help ul'
in cash or kind. Parents and teachers could encourage their children or wards
by example or precept, to enrol as members. No cheaper or finer gift could
be confe rred on a normal boy or girl than membership of a library where for
a paltry sum a month, the child can acquire the distinguished company of a
whole world of writers, thinkers, scientists, philosophers, dramatists, painters,
teachers, scholars and poets. It is one of the fin est investments one can. make,
for one of the really satisfyin.g and truly rewarding pleasures of life, the simple
habit of reading good books. Could you help us then to make the P erak Library,
which is also accessible to non-members at all library hours, a well-stocked
library so that it will become, in the words of its President, Datoh Panglima
Bukit Gantang, "a legacy well-worth leaving to those who come after us." ?'
"SEOH THEAN C HYE.
H em. Se01·oo,t1'Y.
Pemk Libm·ry.
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EDUCATION IN PERAK IN THE LAST PART OF THE
19th CENTURY (1878 -1900)
The first official mention of Education in Perak i in the Resident'n Annual
Report for lS18 - for year after the igning of the Treaty of PangkoT. The
Resident, Hugh LO\\', \Hites under Education ... . " Thi is a new establi hment
instituted in the hope of inducing a de ire for ducation amongst the children
of the Rajahs and others at Sayong." (It i interesting to note that in December
1956 the .P .W.D. cRlled for tendeI. for a permanent English chool at Sayong) .
'L'he totnl o"'xpemliture recorded for the yriJT 18'18 on education '1ras $15 ont of
a state e}..'penditure of $280 332.
In 1888 it if< recorded that F. T. Thorold, Acting :M:agishate was appointed
Acting Inspector of ehools. By lSR!) - the yea r in which H. H. Sultan Indris
was installed - ' the e timatk!S for expenclihue on Education amounted to $1,G45
out of a total of $2,313,751 State expenditure. Mr. Thorold record that there
were then 90 boys at the Taiping Central School clas. ified as follow : Primers
18, Beginners 23 Stanclard I 18, II 13, III 9, IV 5, VI 1. H e also opines
" .. . . it is high time tha.t schools were staJted at Ipoh and Gopen." rrhe schools
then exi ting with their enrolment. al'e listed below. Apart from the Taiping
Oentral School, there wa,; ,;ome English taught in the Kuala. Kangsar and Teluk
Anson School' . Mr. ThoTo~d report:; of KliMa Kangsar that" tJle knO\dedgc of
Engli h displayed by the 4 boys leaves much to be desired."
Taiping Central School
90
Kanlunting
41
Tamil Mission, Taiping
22
Matang Tamil
21
Tamil l\Iis!'ion Bagan Serai Boy
4R
Tamil Mission Bagan Semi Girls
20
Taiping Girl
8
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Malay Schools
4
Selanla
59
K ampong ICe-dah
28
Sungei Megat Adris
25
Sungei Siakap
16
Bagan Serai
32
: 'impa.ng Limn
20
Jalan Rahru
40
Kuala Kangsar
-19
Batu Gajah
28
Telok Anson
31
In 1890 the Perak Government Gazette records : "No. 58. The School:
master, 'l'aiping, t.o be styled Head Master, Central School, Taiping, with effect
from 1st. January, 18!l0." In the 8ame year Mr. H. R. Collinge Waf: appointed
Inspector of Schools, a post. he continued t.o hold lmtil he died when on leave
in the United Kingdom in 1914. It is recorded for t.he same year that 2 private
Chinese schools were opened in the village of Kamunting.
In 1895 "an English school was start.ed at Ipoh by American missionaries,
and by a special concession, it. was at once admitted t.o the privileges of the Code."
There were in this year 10 English Schools 84 Malay schools and 2 Tamil
schools. 534 pupils (70 Malays) were learning Bllglish out of a total of 4,258.
'fhe English schools were: 'fajping Central (going up to Standard VII) ; Taiping
Girls; Anglo-Tamil, Taiping; Anglo-Chinese, Kamunting; Kuala Kangsar; Parit
Buntar; Tel uk Anson; American Mission, I poh; French Mission, Bagan Serai;
French Mission; Taipillg. All -except the last three were government schools.
It is recorded that there was " a necessity to appoint a· third European master
at the Central School, the premier school of the State." In 1896 a playground
was made for 'the premier school', and the same year "new physical drill wa ..
taught at a number of schcols. Toy guns ahout. 3 feet in length are used in the
exercises." The annuaJ expenditure of the department had now risen to $52,264.
There were 28 Malay boys (out of a total of 159) attending t.he Central School.
including 3 young Rajas from Kuala Kangsar and the son of the Sri Maharaja
Lela. Each pupil in average attendance at the English schools cost Government
$17.50 a year.
In 1897 a Mission Girls' School was opened in I poh, and we ha ve the
first mention of Adult Education - a regimental school for the Malay States
Guides being provided in Taiping.
In 1898 a normal school or training college was opened in Taiping ' with
a view to creating a supply of teachers of a hetter class for the Govemment
Malay Boys' Schools of the F.M.S.' It operated for 2 years only and trained
10 Teachers and closed when 'a joint Training College for the Colony :mil the
Nat.ive States nnder an English Principal was started at Malacca.'
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In 1899 the American Mission took over the English School at Teluk
Anson. There were 28 pupils. Mr. J. Driver, the Inspector of Schools. F .M.S.
records that the 3 principal ~'.M.S. schools for boys were: Central School, Taiping
(enrolment 204); Methodist School, Ipoh (152); Victoria Institution, Kuala
Lumpur (411). He also mentions the need for technical and industrial education.
and says somewhat prematurely " ... . II foreign vernacular education is to spread:
it should I think be made compulsory to teach either English or Malay with it."
In 1900 Mr. Stainer was appointed Headmaster of the Central School,
where he was to stay for over 20 years. There were 15 English schools (10
Government and 5 grant-in-aid). Four schools had European teachers, namely
the Central School, Taiping; the Anglo-Chinese School, Ipoh, which recorded the
first Junior Cambridge pass for rerak; the Convent.• 'l'aiping; and the Uethodist
Girls' School, Taiping (formerly Government Girls' School) .
5