Historic schools live on in minds of alumni
GEORGE TOWN: The memories of SK and SMK Convent Light Street will live on in the minds of their alumni members.
Wong Yen Ni, 65, said she would always remember the years she spent as a pupil and student of the schools.
She said her most vivid memory of early days in the schools was of the nuns and their kindness.
“When I first joined the school, I was terrified of the nuns. However, after a week in the school, I realised that they were kind and gentle,” she said here yesterday.
Wong said she was sad when she heard that the schools would be shut to make way for development.
“But I am happy to hear that Sisters of Infant Jesus (IJS) will be keeping the grounds for educational purposes.”
She said the rich history of the building, which survived World War 2, should be preserved for the future generations.
“I remember there were scribblings on the doors by World War 2 prisoners. The school and its building are testament to survival and perseverance.”
Another alumnus, Oplyn Mok, 40s, recalled playing with her fellow schoolmates near the Francis Light Well in the school.
“We used to shout into the well to hear our voices echoing.”
She said together with her friends, they used to regale each other with “ghost stories” from the scribblings on the doors.
S. Kamalvathy, 57, said visiting the school and walking down the long corridors “brings back fun memories when I was a young Convent girl”.
SMK Convent Pulau Tikus alumni Yap Soo Huey said the schools had contributed significantly to shaping the people and character of Penang.
She said the schools played a role in cultivating talent and nurturing social harmony and equality.
“For decades, the schools had been home to students of different races, religions and income levels, giving opportunities to children to become friends and work with people from diverse backgrounds.
“The bonding has been critical for social harmony and bridging income, demographic and religious differences.”
She wondered if people would be discouraged from enrolling their children there once they were no longer government schools.
She said while the distribution of schools had dispersed people from different demographic groups to different areas in Penang, the latest move would segregate them further.