Chinese Independent High School
Encyclopedia
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
in the Chinese language
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
as the continuation of the primary education
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
in Chinese national-type primary schools. The medium of instruction in these schools is Mandarin
Standard Mandarin
Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
with simplified Chinese characters writing.
There are a total of 60 Chinese Independent High Schools in the country, including 23 from East Malaysia
East Malaysia
East Malaysia, also known as Malaysian Borneo, is the part of Malaysia located on the island of Borneo. It consists of the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, and the Federal Territory of Labuan. It lies to the east from Peninsular Malaysia , which is located on the Malay Peninsula. The two are...
, and they represent a small number of the high schools in Malaysia. The United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (UCSCAM, the association of Chinese school teachers and trustees), also known as the Dong Jiao Zong , coordinates the curriculum used in the schools and organizes the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) standardized test. Despite this, the schools are independent of each other and are free to manage their own affairs.
Being private schools, Chinese Independent High Schools do not receive funding from the Malaysian government, unlike their National Type cousins. However, in accordance with their aim of providing affordable education to all in the Chinese language, their school fees are substantially lower than those of most other private schools. The schools are kept alive almost exclusively by donations from the public.
History
Chinese schools were being founded by the ethnic Chinese in Malaya as early as the 19th century. The schools were set up with the main intention of providing education in the Chinese language. As such, their students remain largely Chinese to this day even though the school themselves are open to people of all races and backgrounds.After Malaysia's independence in 1957, the government instructed all schools to surrender their properties and be assimilated into the National School system. This caused an uproar among the Chinese and a compromise was achieved in that the schools would instead become "National Type" schools. Under such a system, the government is only in charge of the school curriculum and teaching personnel while the lands still belonged to the schools. While Chinese primary schools were allowed to retained Chinese as the medium of instruction, Chinese secondary schools are required to change into English-medium schools. Over 60 schools converted to become National Type schools, including famous schools like Chung Ling High School
Chung Ling High School
Chung Ling High School is a boys' secondary school in Malaysia, located in George Town, Penang.-The school:...
, Penang Chinese Girls' High School
Penang Chinese Girls' High School
Penang Chinese Girls' High School is a secondary school for girls. Often referred to as "Bīn huá" among the local Chinese community in Penang, is one of the leading girls' schools in Malaysia...
on Penang Island, Jit Sin High School
Jit Sin High School
Jit Sin High School is a secondary school located in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Malaysia.-Background:...
, and Ave Maria Convent High School, Sam Tet High School
SMJK Sam Tet
SMJK Sam Tet is a national-type boys' secondary school located in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. It is located side-by-side with its primary school, SRJK Sam Tet. The founder of the school is Father Fourgs from the local St. Michael Catholic Church. The school has survived hardships, including the...
. While the medium language for most subjects is switched to English as according to the proposal, the teaching and learning of Mandarin remained compulsory in these schools, with most of them dedicating at least one seventh to one fifth of their teaching time per week to Mandarin studies.
This plan was still viewed as an unacceptable compromise amongst some Chinese, and a minority of the Chinese schools refused the proposal and became private high schools or Chinese Independent High Schools as they were later called. This concept slowly gained popularity and, during the 1960s and 70s, many of the National Type high schools reopened their independent high school branch. Their numbers continued to grow until a period when the political situation in Malaysia made it impossible to set up additional independent Chinese high schools. Currently there are 60 independent Chinese high schools in Malaysia, including Foon Yew High School
Foon Yew High School
Foon Yew High School is the largest Chinese independent high school in Malaysia. It is the only Chinese independent high school which has two campuses: one in Stulang Laut, the other in Kulai...
which is the largest secondary school in the country with over 7000 students. Foon Yew High School was the first school to refuse the government's proposal, as well as the first high school to have a branch campus (located in Kulai).
Chinese Independent High Schools in East Malaysia
In 1960, there were 18 high schools using Chinese as the medium of teaching and 22 high schools teaching in the English medium in Sarawak alone. In the year, the British Crown ColonyCrown colony
A Crown colony, also known in the 17th century as royal colony, was a type of colonial administration of the English and later British Empire....
who were then in control of Sarawak proposed that the 18 high schools using Chinese as the medium of teaching be converted into using English. In 1961, a letter was sent to all of the Chinese-medium high schools demanding them to convert teaching of all subjects into English before 1 April 1962. Failing to do so, the schools would not be given any allocations from the government. Despite strong rejection by the local Chinese community, the plan still took place.
In the end, six high schools out of the 18 refused to convert to teaching in English; they were the Chung Hua Middle School No.1, Chung Hua Middle School No.3, Chung Hua Middle School No.4, Guong Ming Middle School, Kiang Hin Middle School and Kai Dee Middle School. The rest of the school which converted into English medium schools ended up as "Sekolah Kebangsaan" after Sarawak joined Malaysia. In 1983 these English medium schools were once again converted into using Bahasa Malaysia as the medium of teaching.
The Chinese community not only continued to support the six high schools which retained the teaching in Chinese (founded in between 1945 and 1960), they had even founded another eight high schools between 1962 and 1968. These 14 high schools then became a part of Malaysia's Chinese Independent High School and still exist today.
In Sabah, all of the nine Chinese Independent High Schools in the state were formed in between 1960 and 1969.
Characteristics
Students usually spend six years in a Chinese Independent High School. The six years are divided into two stages: three years in junior middle and three years in senior middle, similar to the secondary school systems in mainland ChinaEducation in the People's Republic of China
Education in the People's Republic of China is a state-run system of public education run by the Ministry of Education. All citizens must attend school for at least nine years. The government provides primary education for six years, starting at age six or seven, followed by six years of secondary...
and Taiwan. Students are streamed
Tracking (education)
Tracking is separating pupils by academic ability into groups for all subjects or certain classes and curriculum within a school. It may be referred as streaming or phasing in certain schools. In a tracking system, the entire school population is assigned to classes according to whether the...
into tracks like Science or Art/Commerce in the senior middle stage. At the end of each stage, students sit for the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC). A few schools offer an additional year in senior middle, catering to students taking the government's Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM, equivalent to A-level).
Chinese Independent High Schools use the same academic year as government schools. An academic year consists of two semesters: Semester 1 from January to May and Semester 2 from June to November, with examinations at the end of each semester. The overall academic performance of a student in an academic year determines his/her promotion to the next study year in the next academic year. Failing requires repeating the study year. Usually, failing to be promoted for two years in a roll results in a dismissal. In contrast, students in government schools are automatically promoted regardless of academic performance.
Unified Examination Certificate (UEC)
The Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) is a standardized test for Chinese Independent High School students organized by the UCSCAM since 1975. The UEC is available in three levels: Junior Middle (UEC-JML), Vocational (UEC-V), and Senior Middle (UEC-SML). Examinations for the UEC-JML and UEC-V are only available in the Chinese language. The UEC-SML has questions for mathematics, sciences (biology, chemistry and physics), bookkeeping, accounting and commerce available in Chinese and English.The UEC-SML is recognized as a qualification for entrance into many tertiary educational institutions around the world, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Australia, Canada and many others. It is not recognized by the government of Malaysia for entry into public universities, but most private colleges recognize it.
Because the UEC is not recognized by the Malaysian government, some Chinese Independent High Schools opt to teach the national secondary school curriculum (in Malay) alongside the independent school curriculum (in Chinese) and require students to sit for the government standardized tests (PMR
Penilaian Menengah Rendah
Penilaian Menengah Rendah is a Malaysian public examination taken by all Form Three students in both government and private schools throughout the country. It was formerly known as Sijil Rendah Pelajaran...
, SPM
Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia
The Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia , or the Malaysian Certificate of Education, is a national examination taken by all fifth-year secondary school students in Malaysia...
or even STPM) as private school candidates, providing the students an opportunity to obtain government-recognized certificates.
Chinese educationalist Dr Kua Kia Soong mentions the introduction of the UEC in his book Protean Saga: The Chinese Schools of Malaysia. According to the book, the introduction of the UEC led to Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the then Minister of Education and later the Prime Minister of Malaysia, summoning the Chinese educationalists to parliament. To quote the book, "The latter (Mahathir) did not mince his words but told the Dong Jiao Zong leaders that UEC had better not be held or else ... He did not ask for any response and dismissed the Chinese educationalists with a curt ... 'that is all'."
In May 2004 the National Accreditation Board (LAN) required students entering local private colleges using any qualification other than the SPM to pass the SPM Malay paper. This drew protests and the then Minister of Higher Education Dr Shafie Salleh exempted UEC students from this requirement.
Schools
Kuala LumpurKuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
:
- Tsun Jin High School
- Kuen Cheng Girls SchoolKuen Cheng Girls SchoolKuen Cheng Girls' High School ' or SM P Kuen Cheng is a secondary girls' school in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia which was established in 1908...
- Confucian Private Secondary School
- Chong Hwa Independent High School
Selangor
Selangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
:
- Kwang Hua (Private) High School
- Pin Hua High School
- Hin Hua High SchoolHin Hua High SchoolHin Hua High School is a Chinese Independent High School in Malaysia.-Introduction and History:Hin Hua High School is located along Persiaran Raja Muda Musa in the southern part of Klang...
- Chung Hua Independent High School
Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
:
- Shen Jai High School
- Perak Yuk Choy High School
- Poi Lam High School
- Yik Ching High School
- Tsung Wah (Private) Secondary School
- Nan Hwa High School
- Pei Yuan High School
- San Min High School
- Hua Lian High School
Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
:
- Chung Hwa High School Muar
- Pei Hwa High School
- Kluang Chong Hwa High School
- Yong Peng High School
- Chinese High School Batu Pahat
- Chong Hwa High School, Batu Pahat
- Pei Chun High School
- Foon Yew High SchoolFoon Yew High SchoolFoon Yew High School is the largest Chinese independent high school in Malaysia. It is the only Chinese independent high school which has two campuses: one in Stulang Laut, the other in Kulai...
Melaka:
- Pay Fong High SchoolPay Fong High SchoolPay Fong High School is a Malaysian Chinese Independent High School located in Malacca, Malaysia.-History:Being the only Chinese Independent School in the state of Malacca, it was founded in 1913 by 陈齐贤、曾江水、沈鸿柏, etc.-External links:*...
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan, one of the 13 states that constitutes Malaysia, lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just south of Kuala Lumpur and borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the south....
:
- Chung Hua High School, SerembanSerembanSeremban is the capital of the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan, located within the district of Seremban, one of the seven districts of Negeri Sembilan. The town's administration is run by the Seremban Municipal Council or Majlis Perbandaran Seremban...
- Chung Hua Middle School, Port DicksonPort DicksonPort Dickson or PD to locals is a beach and holiday destination situated about 32 km from Seremban and 90 km from Kuala Lumpur. It is located in the state of Negeri Sembilan in Peninsular Malaysia...
Kedah
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
:
- Sin Min High School, Sungai PetaniSungai PetaniSungai Petani is a town in the state of Kedah, in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. Sungai Petani is the second largest town in Kedah after Alor Star.-Etmylogy:...
- Sin Min High School, Alor Setar
- Keat Hwa High School
Pulau Pinang:
- Jit Sin High SchoolJit Sin High SchoolJit Sin High School is a secondary school located in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Malaysia.-Background:...
- Han Chiang High SchoolHan Chiang High SchoolHan Chiang High School is a private Chinese high school located in Jalan Han Chiang, Penang, Malaysia. The school was founded in 1950 by The Teow Chew Association of Penang. Mr.Lim Lean Teng gave the school and Han Chiang Primary School a piece of land measuring .The school is the first private...
- Chung Ling (Private) High School
- Penang Chinese Girls' Private High SchoolPenang Chinese Girls' Private High SchoolPenang Chinese Girls' Private High School is a private high school for girls located in Penang, Malaysia.It is the only all girls private high school in Malaysia. It offers a 6 years course which allow students to take either an internationally recognized examination named UEC or the Malaysian...
- Phor Tay Private High School, not to be confused with Phor Tay High SchoolPhor Tay High SchoolPhor Tay High School , is a government-aided, Buddhist, co-educational school, situated in Sungai Dua, Penang, Malaysia...
Kelantan
Kelantan
Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....
:
- Chung Hwa Independent High School
Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
:
- Chung Hua Middle School No.1
- Chung Hua Middle School No.3
- Chung Hua Middle School No.4
- Batu Kawa Min Lit Secondary School
- Serian Public Secondary School
- Guong Ming Middle School
- Wong Nai Siong Secondary School
- Kiang Hin Middle School
- Catholic High School, SibuSibu, SarawakSibu is an inland town, and the capital of Sibu District in Sibu Division, Sarawak, east Malaysia. It is located at the confluence of the Rajang and Igan Rivers, some 60 kilometres from the ocean and approximately east-north-east of the state capital Kuching...
- Citizen Middle School, SibuSibu, SarawakSibu is an inland town, and the capital of Sibu District in Sibu Division, Sarawak, east Malaysia. It is located at the confluence of the Rajang and Igan Rivers, some 60 kilometres from the ocean and approximately east-north-east of the state capital Kuching...
- Kai Dee Middle School
- Pei Min Middle School
- Riam Road Secondary School
- Ming Lik Secondary School
Sabah
Sabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
:
- Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary SchoolSabah Tshung Tsin Secondary SchoolSabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School is located in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. The principal is Hiew Hoh Shin. The school has two semesters each year. An academic year begins in January, with an approximately two weeks holiday in June, and ends in the beginning of November...
- Kian Kok Middle School
- Papar Middle School
- Beaufort Middle School
- Tenom Tshung Tsin Secondary School
- Sabah Chinese High School, TawauTawauTawau is the administrative center of Tawau Division, Malaysia and the third largest town of Sabah after Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan.-Geography:...
- Pei Tsin High School
- Lahad Datu Middle School
- Yu Yuan Secondary School
See also
- Education in MalaysiaEducation in MalaysiaEducation in Malaysia is overseen by two government ministries. The Ministry of Education handles matters pertaining to pre-school, primary school, secondary school and post-secondary school. Matters regarding tertiary education are dealt with by the Ministry of Higher Education...
- 林连玉基金
- United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (UCSCAM), known as Dong Jiao Zong (Chinese:董教总)