JUST before Malaya achieved independence in 1957, a unique educational experiment took place to overcome the acute shortage of teachers for English medium primary and secondary schools in Malaya. It was a dramatic move and one calculated to prepare Malaya for its eventual independence as a nation.
Inadvertently, that bold dramatic move gave birth to a movement known as the Kirkby Phenomenon. It was composed of more than 1,500 teachers who then took up positions as teachers in the far-flung parts of Malaya preparing the country for the day when independence was declared on August 31, 1957.
Many agencies worked together with the Federation of Malaya to make the Malayan Teachers’ Training College (MTTC) at Kirkby in Liverpool a reality – the Colonial Office, the Ministry of Education, the Liverpool Education Authority, and the University of Liverpool.
The Malayan Teachers’ Training College (MTTC) at Kirkby first opened its doors on November 17, 1952, to 149 pioneer teacher trainees from Malaya. It became known as ‘Kampung Kirkby’ in tribute to the 'home away from home’ feeling it had created over the years.
For their journey to the UK, the 149 trainees boarded the SS Chusan at Port Swettenham Pier, for that fateful 21-day journey to England, paving the way for others to follow. For 11 years till 1962, Kirkby College trained batches of teacher trainees, as Malaya stood on the cusp of independence and Britain stood poised to pass the baton of independence to Malaya.
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In the book 'Kirkby College – A Heritage 2015', this feeling resonated:
“The MTTC was an important factor in the history of teacher training as well as that of education in Malaya and Malaysia. The Kirkby graduates played an important role in the educational development of Malaysia, especially during the period after independence.
“The opening and management of new schools and schools in rural areas in Malaya were spearheaded by Kirkby-trained teachers. In the 1950s and 60s, some of them were seconded to Brunei and North Borneo to work in schools and teachers’ colleges.”
Tan Ling Suan, 80, was one of those who willingly braved the journey and spent the next two years at Kirkby preparing for a career in teaching. From the Kirkby batch of January 1959 to December 1960, she cannot forget those happy years in ‘Kampung Kirkby.’
“The unique setting of being taught by very respectful and approachable lecturers, living in a multicultural community of Malaysians (far away from home), interacting with the locals there in various activities like being hosted by English families on weekends in their homes, having teaching practice in local schools, hiking during college breaks or travelling to nearby countries were all enriching experiences and broadened our outlook.
“I would never have achieved so much in two years if I had stayed home in Malaysia. So imagine how mature and equipped a young teacher like me could feel on returning home to be posted anywhere on my first job. I was 19 years old,” shared Tan.
Until today, Tan and the rest of the Kirkby clan have regular reunions, celebrate birthdays together and regularly keep in contact with the many friends they made in and around the villages near the training college of Kirkby.
The camaraderie shared by the many Kirkby alumni and their experiences as teachers can be seen in the way they talk about their days as teachers in rural Malaya.
P. Ramakrishnan shared a distinct memory: “As a Kirkby graduate, I was driven by passion and idealism to serve in the rural areas of Malaya. And just before I left to take up my post, I went to the principal, CJ Gurney, whom we all fondly referred to as ‘Papa Gurney’ – and reminded him of my request to serve in Pahang. 'Don’t worry young man, to Pahang you will go!'.
“Later I found out that I was posted to the Clifford Primary School in Kuala Lipis, Pahang and thus began my career as a teacher. For 33 years I stayed true to my path until I retired,” said Ramakrishnan, who was active in the National Union of Teaching Profession and the reform movement, Aliran.
“There was no racial divide. We were put in a different country with a cold climate and met so many different people but there was a spirit of belonging. We all felt the same, we were all Malaysians, or Malayans, as the earlier batches were called, and it gave us a wonderful sense of being a family,” said Ramakrishnan.
Dr Haji Mohamed Thalha, 85, was at Kirkby from 1955 to 1957, before the independence of Malaya. He shared his experiences after being posted to work upon finishing at Kirkby.
“I was posted to Kuala Besut to teach at the Tengku Mahmud School, which was a challenge as it had no running water. There was jungle all around and our quarters were on the school grounds. I did the best I could and went on to complete my Higher School Certificate (HSC) before applying to University of Malaya for my undergraduate degree,” said Thalha.
According to Thalha, his experiences at Kirkby spurred him on to greater heights. He went on to complete his Master’s and PhD under a scholarship from University of Malaya to the United States for Urban & Regional Planning. He then set up the first Department of Urban and Regional Planning in Universiti Technology Mara Shah Alam (UiTM) in the sixties.
“My joy was meeting all those I taught in Kuala Besut who went on to excel in school and university and held many high positions in the civil service. I knew they benefitted from my teaching them,” said Thalha.
“Kirkby revolutionised the whole approach of teaching. A full-time all-embracing course where sports, societies, and clubs were vibrant, dancing was a favourite activity and the first concert known as ‘Malayan Medley’ depicted the rich glory of our traditions.
"It soon became an annual affair and put us on the map, a first for tourism,” said Datuk Mohd Sidek Elamdin, from Class of 1952-1953.
“The first-ever public announcement that Malaya was going to achieve independence was made in the main hall of the Kirkby College, on February 7, 1956, by then Chief Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, who became the first prime minister of Malaysia, to shouts of 'Merdeka!' and thunderous clapping," said Datuk VL Kandan, who underwent training from 1955 to 1957 at Kirkby.
“It was an astonishing time for us at Kirkby as we were at the forefront of many exciting events, not only at the college but in the run-up to independence,” said Kandan. He went on to teach in High School Kajang and upon completion of his teaching contract, resigned and took up law.
Kandan had a distinguished career in law and made a name for himself in Intellectual Property. He was the Founder President of the Malaysian Intellectual Property Association.
He is the president of the MTTC Kirkby Alumni Association. During his tenure as a Senior Partner at Shearn & Delamore and Co, he trained hundreds of pupils in Intellectual Property.
“I never stopped being a teacher and the training at Kirkby has stood me in good stead,” said Kandan, who has since retired but continues to be active in the MTTC Kirby Alumni Association.
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Why MTTC Kirkby Training College remains in their hearts
At a Kirkby Reunion in 2004, Ramakrishnan said: “Kirkby taught us the true value of friendship that transcended the artificial barriers of race and religion. We could live harmoniously as a community despite our varied differences and backgrounds; we could reach out to one another as fellow human beings.
The sharing and caring were the hallmark of that friendship and something to treasure as they reflected the true Kirkby spirit.
“Kirkby was a place where our patriotism was a matter of pride and stood out as a shining example of our loyalty and love for our country.
“For those who were at Kirkby, it was an opportunity to show our love for a nation not yet born. And for others, they continued the legacy to serve their country in the best way possible, with their hearts and minds.”
Many famous and well-known personalities walked through the doors of Kirkby and made a name for themselves. They included lawyers RR Chelvarajah, Datuk RK Nathan, educationists Tan Sri Datuk Dr M Thambirajah, Dr Hj Mohamed Thalha, Chiam Tah Wen, Satish Chand Bhandan, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Dr Yahya Ibrahim, and many more others who distinguished themselves in their chosen careers. – The Vibes, August 31, 2021
