Keeping the legacy of convent schools
While the IJS convent school institution is history, it has positively shaped the development of our country and its heritage can and must live on.
TODAY, we continue to call the primary and secondary learning institutions housed in buildings on land acquired by the industrious and sacrificing sisters, “convent schools”.
It was not a natural evolution over time, but a transformation into a different character and changed proprietorship when these learning institutions were fully nationalised.
The Infant Jesus Sisters (IJS) have been relieved from stewardship and direct involvement in their once special brand of convent schools established more than a century and half ago.
The achievements of the founding and succeeding sisters had been unique and commendable – the provision of quality Englishmedium education for girls in preparation for the challenges of eventual adulthood and participation in the country’s workforce.
In effect, the spartan nuns promulgated wholesome education in academics, home science and character-building through strict discipline.
The IJS convent school institution is now history, whether we can digest this fact or are willing to accept it or not.
Only memories evoked by their buildings bought or built by the sisters and the “convent” suffix to the names of the present national schools remain.
The former convent girl in me had been sad.
But one must accept this different phase of life and move on.
The convent schools were where most of us grew up. I am not will-
ing to let go their legacy. They have positively shaped the history and development of our country.
In my mind, the convent school heritage can and must live on.
But how do we go about it correctly? Based on present situation and cultural climate in our country, the legacy of the nuns will pass away with our generation if we walk the wrong steps.
Many in the younger generation have never known about the French-origin IJS and their contribution to this country.
This ignorance and lack of interest will continue and increase in the generations to come.
Given the void in sentimental attachments, they are unlikely to resist any future compulsory acquisitions for redevelopments or change in names in the present “convent schools” by whichever governing authority.
If we have already seen this turning point, then we should approach the issue of preservation carefully.
The convent schools were, in the early days, an integral part of the convent establishment of the Infant Jesus or St Maur Sisters as they were then called. Even into the early 20th century, they were part of the complex of premises in the convent.
Only branch schools do not have live-in quarters for the sisters as they were served by nearby convents. Hence, all schools administered by the nuns were generally called convent schools.
Over time, it become an accepted term of reference for these schools.
If the sisters now have a plan to preserve their heritage of their convent school institution and the physical buildings for posterity, why not support them?
They are not being ambitious. They have more than 50 education-related properties across the country, but at present moment, only anxious to retrieve back what are most dear to them.
The landmark and historical base of IJS lies in the properties where the primary and secondary schools of Convent Light Street now situate and Convent Pulau Tikus was the extension of their service to the residents of Penang for more than a century.
I first walked into the IJS archives and museum at Cheras Convent in February 2015.
I was stunned by the faces and eyes of the early sisters who stared back at me from the display boards.
It was the same feeling of awe when I became overwhelmed by the captivating paintings of outstanding leaders and founders of the institute at the Mother House in Paris. The complex of buildings at historical Rue St Maur is itself more than 350 years old.
I have this grand notion of seeing a museum of some of these treasures at Convent Light Street, showing off the days of glory of the institute.
Penang was where it all began. The nuns’ first mission overseas brought disaster and heartaches in the beginning but had a happy ending in our minds.
The continued existence of their many beautiful convent school buildings bear witness to their great achievements.
They had successfully provided education to countless girls and even boys at certain points in time, when the country needed them most.
I can also envisage the rebirth of a mission school – one that’s committed to the mission of bringing secular, quality and wholesome English-medium education to younger generations at affordable fees like it used to be in the days of strive by the sisters.
If only the sisters can retrieve their buildings to relish these dreams.
The sisters did not make unreasonable demands on the Government, as rumoured.
Given that there were no committal response from the Education Ministry, follow-up requests were made in September to have their buildings back in a time frame of three to five years.
And to achieve this within the longer five-year period, the sisters have suggested that steps be taken to stop new intakes next year.
It has been observed that the enrolments at Convent Light Street had been falling.
There are also nearby schools which may have the capacity to absorb future students if this is a better option for some.
There are a few misconceptions fuelled by inaccurate “reports” in social and mainstream media.
For one, there was the taboo associated by some to the sisters’ “intention to privatise” and achieve some monetary gains in the process.
Of course, this is not possible as the schools (unlike the building structures and land) do not belong to IJS anymore.
In IJS’ plan to provide wholesome, English-medium education in the character of a convent school again, the cost of operations will not be government funded.
Hence, the private institution. Needless to say too, this intention is definitely not compatible to any idea that the land may be sold to a developer for re-development.
If the sisters now take definitive steps to achieve their goal of retaining their heritage buildings and crusading forward, their mission of education on grounds established by their founding sisters, why does anyone consider this an unjustifiable cause?
They had successfully provided education to countless girls and even boys at certain points in time, when the country needed them most.