GEORGE TOWN – Penang Free School celebrated its 205th year anniversary today in a modest scale with a traditional speech day and appreciation to its founders at the Lebuh Farquhar Anglican Cemetery.
The oldest school in Southeast Asia proudly stands in Jalan Masjid Negeri, formerly known as Green Lane, as an icon to the state as prominent figures of the country are alumni of the school.
Old Frees’ Association president Andrew Lim said they decided to have the celebration on a small scale, following standard operating procedures to avoid social gatherings.
“Only a small number of people were invited for the traditional speech day event, including top students who sat for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia and Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia, or in their absence the parents were invited to attend.
“Earlier, we held a service at the Lebuh Farquhar Anglican Cemetery for school founder Reverend Robert Sparke Hutchings, which is an annual traditional event held to honour him and his dedication to the school.”
Lim said Reverend Father Ho Kong Eng conducted the service at the cemetery, where Penang Anglican Bishop Ven Stephan Soe Chee Cheng and several representatives from the St. George’s Church attended.
Penang Free School was formed in 1816, a mere 30 years after Francis Light secured the first British foothold in Malaya by leasing the island from the sultan of Kedah in 1786.
Prior to the school’s establishment, the services of an educator named Thomas Callum was only available for the children of Europeans and government officials. During those early days of the young colony, there were no educational facilities for the general public.
Acutely aware of this lack, Reverend Robert Sparke Hutchings, the founder of Penang Free School succeeded in getting a few Penang leaders together with the government to start a school where admission would not be restricted to race, creed or colour.
Hutchings planned to have the students, upon reaching an appropriate age equipped with skills that would allow them to gain wilful employment as carpenters, smiths, shoemakers, tailors and bookbinders after graduation.
He also assured the government that his intelligent, diligent and honest students would benefit Penang in many ways.
On February 6, 1816, Hutchings and six other members of the committee signed the declaration to establish a school in Penang, which was at the time known as Prince of Wales Island.
The school has its school’s illustrious legacy, producing many prominent figures in the country including the country’s first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman and former Penang chief minister Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu.
The institution has also produced countless top students in the academic world as well as in sports, politics, arts and the judiciary. Among the most famous alumni were Tuanku Syed Putra, Raja Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalulail, Malay cinema legend P. Ramlee and Dr Wu Lien Teh. – The Vibes, October 21, 2021
