Mission schools' role hard to replace : Dr. Yee
Sunday, 22 June 2003 (Source : Daily Express)

Kota Kinabalu: Mission schools are distinguished as melting pots for the various races in this country, perhaps more than any other school, with their proud tradition of unity in diversity, integration and ethnic and religious harmony.

“Indeed, at a time when the colonial government did little to provide education for the masses, the Christian churches and the Chinese community were the only providers of education which the people of Sabah had depended on for their children’s education,” said Tanjung Aru MP, Dr Yee Moh Chai.

Dr Yee, as the guest-of-honour at the Sacred Heart Primary School’s Centenary celebrations on Saturday said this in his speech.

He said there was no denying that such schools were instrumental in bringing Sabah into the modern era.

“The products of the mission schools dominated the political, administrative and technical scenes when Sabah became independent in the 60s.

“They still do today and I hope the churches will continue to find meaning in this partnership with the Government to provide education for the young.

“I understand that the churches are reassessing their role. Now that the Government has taken over the provision of education, there have been questions in certain quarters as to the continued relevance of the mission schools. I personally feel that the mission schools still have a role to play to provide a distinct brand of quality education, which is difficult to replace or surpass.

“I know that the operation of the Education Act throughout Malaysia may have curtailed the freedom with which the mission schools had in pursuing their own style and emphasis in education, but I believe much can still be done to bring about a measure of individuality and imaginative and innovative approach to education within the broad national education parameter.

“I am sure the Government appreciates the invaluable contributions that the mission schools in general and Sacred Heart in particular have made to society in the last 100 years and will continue to count on the mission schools to do their full role in this partnership, and do so with full recognition of the original purposes for which the schools were established,” he added.

Meanwhile, State Education Director, Datuk Kamal Quadra, in his speech congratulated the school on reaching its 100 years (1903-2003) and having achieved at one time a national reputation as being one of the best schools in the country.

“We need to bring back that era of excellence,” he said, adding he would try to help the school in whatever way within the department’s capability.

Indicating that he was well aware of the problems faced by the school as regards its dilapidated infrastructure despite considerable repair works and a facelift, he encouraged the La Salle Board of Governors which manages the Sacred Heart Primary School, to continue to work at getting its plan for a new school at its new site realised.

During the function, Kamal also introduced the school’s new headmaster, Simon Lim, handing to him there and then, his appointment letter. Lim is replacing Jimmy Lindua.

The Board, presently headed by Datuk Stanislaus Yee, has actually secured a five-acre lot at Kepayan Ridge. The site is a rocky hill close to residential areas. However, because of the high cost of site preparation such as controlled blasting, and earthworks, the development of the new school has not been able to get off the ground as yet.

The Board said it would need the help and support of the entire school community in its endeavour and hopes that parents will respond generously to all future appeals for donations and participation in whatever way.

The history of the Sacred Heart School is intertwined with the history of the Sacred Heart Church, which was founded by a Dutch Mill Hill priest, Fr Henry van der Heyden in 1903.

Fr Heyden arrived on Jan 20, 1903 to begin a new Roman Catholic Mission in Jesselton.

This Mission which included a boys’ school was located in a room above a seafront Chinese shop in Jesselton.

In that small room, daily classes were held and liturgy was celebrated. Together with one catechist, he taught catechism, English and arithmetic to about 20 boys, most of whom were Chinese. There were more boarders than day pupils.

Space was a constraint, the room being far too small. However, things turned for the better when in that same year, on April 9, 1903, he secured the site where the present Sacred Heart Cathedral and Sacred Heart Primary School stand on a 999-year lease.