Poison Apple: Methodist Schools in Malaysia

Christian missionaries were early pioneers in the establishment of modern schools in Malaysia. They were pastors of the church as well as school principals and teachers. Land had been purchased for the church and school, or donated by the local community. Methodist missionary schools began in 1880 when Rev. William F. Oldham opened the Anglo-Chinese School in Singapore on March 1, 1886. Five years later, another Anglo-Chinese School was establish in Penang. Among the founding principals include Rev. G.F. Pykett, Rev. James Hoover, Rev. Peach and Rev. Preston Dr. Ho Seng Ong. These schools were established in the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States in modern day Peninsular Malaysia. Some of them were established by the British colonial government and then submitted to the Methodist missionary for care. For example, Lady Treacher's Girls' School, Taiping, established in 1889, was later handed over to the Methodist missionary ten years later. Government Girls' English School, established in 1896, was handed over to the Methodists four years later and is currently the Methodist Girls School of Kuala Lumpur. There are about 30 Methodist secondary schools in Malaysia and 40 primary ones.

Secondary Schools