Phor Tay Buddhist School
19A Jalan Bagan Jermal, 10250 Penang

Phor Tay Bagan Jermal
Location Map

Phor Tay Sungai Dua
Location Map

Phor Tay Buddhist School

The Phor Tay Buddhist School, a girls' school, is the first Buddhist high school in Malaysia. It is known today as SMJK Phor Tay, and has an enrolment of about 1500 female students.

Phor Tay was founded in 1935 by a Buddhist nun, the Venerable Fung Lian, who came from China to propagate Buddhism in Penang. After the Venerable Fung Lian passed away in 1939, her followers continued her mission to found a school to provide secular education. However, the school was forced to close during the years of the Second World War. It reopened in 1945, with renewed efforts to set up the Phor Tay Primary School.

Funds from philanthropist Aw Boon Haw enable the construction of the Phor Tay Institution, which includes a Buddhist shrine, a meditation centre, and the primary school. Mr Aw Boon Haw personally officiated in the opening of the Phor Tay Primary School on 20 April 1950. The following year, the Peng Hsia Opera Association initiated a fund-raising campaign to collect funds to build the Phor Tay High School. Mr Aw Boon Haw made another donation to fund the construction of six classrooms. Phor Tay High School began operating in 1954. In 1957, Mrs Aw Boon Haw made a donation of MYR$70,000 in memory of her late husband, and as an impetus for other donors to follow suit. This enabled a further MYR$500,000 to be collected for the school. Mrs Aw officiated in the official opening of the Phor Tay High School on 1 March, 1961.

Phor Tay is presently gearing for a move from its premises in Bagan Jermal to new premises at Lip Sin Garden in Sungai Dua. The new school building cost RM33 million, with funds coming from private as well as institutional donors. In line with this move, Phor Tay is applying to change from an all-girl school to a co-educational school. The Phor Tay building in Sungai Dua is expected to be completed by October 2008, to enable a 3000-strong student body for the January 2009 intake. Those who wish to contribute to the fund can call 04-2270772.

Getting there

You can reach the present Phor Tay in Bagan Jermal by taking Rapid Penang Bus 101 and 104 from Weld Quay, and 304 from Bayan Baru.

To reach the new Phor Tay premises at Sungai Dua, take Rapid Penang Bus 301, 303 from Weld Quay, and 304 from Bayan Baru.

Visiting Penang

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