 Shih Chung Branch School, Penang
Shih Chung Branch School, or SJK (C) Shih Chung Cawangan, is a historic primary school in Penang. The present school building is located in Sungai Nibong, sandwiched between Kwang Hwa Primary School and SMK Sungai Nibong.
Shih Chung Main School, Love Lane (29 January, 2005)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Shih Chung School was founded in 1908 by Hakka millionaires Leong Fee @ Liang Pi Joo (1857-1911) and Tye Kee Yoon (1849-1919) at the mansion built by Cheah Tek Soon, Goh Chan Lau.
In 1929 Shih Chung School was shifted to Love Lane, next to Carpenter's Guild. By 1938, the school premises at Love Lane proved inadequate to contain its student body, so a branch school was established at Goh Chan Lau. From then on, Shih Chung existed as a main school and a branch school.
Old Shih Chung Branch School, at Goh Chan Lau (23 February, 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
The Second World War brought much upheaval to the school. Its premises at Goh Chan Lau was taken over by the Japanese Military as an administrative headquarters, and the branch school was relocated back to Love Lane. There the combined school co-existed until 1949, when the Shih Chung Branch School returned to occupy Goh Chan Lau. In 1961, the launch of the Uniform Salary Scale for Teachers saw the full severance of Shih Chung Main School from Shih Chung Branch School.
A new form of calamity descended on the Shih Chung Schools from the mid 1970's, when the urbanization of Penang Island brought forth a collapse in the population of the Inner City, hence a precipitous drop in student attendance, especially the Shih Chung Branch School. Chinese associations such as the Hakka Association and the Shih Chung Alumni Society all came to the rescue the ailing school. It became apparent that the only way for the school to survive was a relocation plan.
Shih Chung Branch School, Sungai Nibong (12 December, 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
A few sites were proposed for the shift of Shih Chung Branch School but were found to be unsuitable. Eventually, through the assistance of former Chief Minister Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon and the State Education Department, a two-acre site in Sungai Nibong was made available to the school for RM958,320. Once again Shih Chung Branch School relocated to the Shih Chung Main School until the new school complex in Sungai Nibong was completed. Later on, Kwang Hwa Primary School also served as the temporary premises for the Year One classes of the school.
The foundation stone for the new school building was laid on 18 September, 1997, by Dr Koh Tsu Koon. The school buildings of Shih Chung Branch School were completed and occupied in stages from the year 2000.
Today Shih Chung Branch School at Sungai Nibong has a student body of about 1,400 in over thirty classes.
Location Map of Shih Chung Branch School
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