Missionary Schools in Penang’s Early Education

Mission Schools or  Missionary Schools in Penang had the best English school education during the colonial era.

In 1786 when Captain Francis Light established Penang, the Christian missionaries set up schools in Malaya and Singapore.

These first missionary schools were founded by the Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, and Brethren churches.

These missionaries formed the solid structure of the English education system in Malaysia.

The schools produce admirable alumni whose contributions to nation-building are outstanding.

Many Queen scholars, Prime Ministers, lawyers, doctors, economists, business leaders, the police, and military forces.

The list starts with the founding of the first and oldest English Missionary Schools in Penang’s Early Education in Southeast Asia.

History of Missionary Schools in Penang

1816 – Penang Free School was founded by Rev. Sparke Hutchings, the Resident Chaplain of Prince of Wales Island, from the Church of England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The school was originally located at Lebuh Farquhar and relocated to its present location in Jalan Masjid Negeri.

1852 – St. Xavier’s Institution at Farquhar Street is the oldest Catholic Lasallian School in Malaysia.

The De La Salle Brothers established the school all-boys school, a religious teaching order founded by French Priest Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle.

While it has a history dating back to 1787, the present-day institution, named after St. Francis Xavier, was only established in 1852.

1852—The Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, universally known as Convent Light Street, is the oldest girls’ school in Southeast Asia.

Reverend Mother Mathilde Raclot is the key personality and driving force behind the setting up of the first Convent School and Orphanage in Penang.

1884—The Anglican missionary in Penang founded a school for girls, St George’s Girls’ School. The school traces its history to the first informal classes conducted by Mrs. Biggs, wife of Reverend L. Courtier Biggs, Colonial Chaplain of the Anglican missionary in Penang.

1891 – Methodist Boys’ School was founded by a Methodist missionary, Rev. Benjamin H. Balderstone, as the Anglo-Chinese School.

The current school buildings at Air Itam Road were completed in the 1950s, and it was renamed Methodist Boys’ School. Since its establishment, the school has been an all-boys school.

Girls are now admitted for Form 6. Pykett Methodist Primary School in George Town shares its origins with Methodist Boys’ School.

The primary school was formed at Pykett Avenue after the secondary school was relocated to Air Itam Road. Due to years of dwindling intake, the primary school will close in 2019.

1892 – The Anglo-Chinese Girls School, now Methodist Girl’s School (MGS), was established by Methodist Mission with Mrs. Amelia Young (later Mrs. G.F. Pykett) conducting classes for girls in Northam Road.

The present-day school is located at Anson Road.

Two former missionary schools for girls, Convent Light Street (CLS) and Convent Pulau Tikus (CPT), are headed for closure.

From 2018 onwards, both schools have stopped taking in students for Form One in secondary schools and Year One for the Convent Light Street primary school.

List of Missionary Schools in Penang (National Primary)

1. SK Assumption
2. SK Convent Bukit Mertajam
3. SK Convent Datuk Keramat (槟城修道院国民型中学)
4. SK Convent Green Lane
5. SK Convent Light Street
6. SK Convent Pulau Tikus
7. SK Francis Light
8. SK Hutchings
9. SK (Cina) Heng Ee
10. SK Methodist
11. SK Perempuan Island
12. SK Perempuan Methodist
13. SK Pykett Methodist
14. SK St George Balik Pulau
15. SK St Mark (M)
16. SK St Xavier
17. SK St Xavier Cawangan
18. SK Stowell
19. SK Wellesley

List of Missionary Schools in Penang (National Secondary)

1. Convent Bukit Mertajam
2. Convent Butterworth
3. Convent Datuk Keramat (槟城修道院国民型中学)
4. Convent Green Lane
5. Convent Light Street
6. Convent Pulau Tikus
7. Heng Ee High School (恒毅国民型中学)
8. Hutchings High School
9. Methodist Boys’ School
10. Methodist Girls’ School
11. Methodist Nibong Tebal
12. Penang Free School
13. St. George’s Balik Pulau
14. St. George’s Girls’ School
15. St. Mark High School
16. St. Xavier’s Institution