SMK Pendidikan Khas Persekutuan
Encyclopedia
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas Persekutuan (the Federation Special Education National Secondary School, formerly known as the Federation School for the Deaf is a school in Penang
, Malaysia. Currently located at 600H, Vale of Tempe Road, 11200 Tanjung Bungah, it was the pioneer deaf school in Malaysia.
In 1952, Dr C Elaine Field, a medical specialist, visited Penang to treat deaf children. Having met and interviewed some of the deaf children about their welfare, Dr Field realised that there were no education programmes for deaf children in Malaya. Dr Field met with Lady Templer, the wife of Sir Gerald Templer
, British High Commissioner in Malaya, during an official visit to Penang
.
On 9 December 1952, Lady Templer chaired a special meeting at the Residency (official residence of the Resident Commissioner
of Penang), which agreed to channel funds for the establishment of a school for the deaf. In 1954, the Federation School for the Deaf officially opened its doors at No. 47, Northam Road, George Town, Penang
. It was the first school for the deaf in Malaya
, and offered primary education to deaf students. R.P. Bingham, the Resident Commissioner of Penang, supported the establishment and became the first Chairman of the Board of Governors.
In 1961, Miss J.M. Hicks resigned as principal and was succeeded by Miss Lee Kooi Jong, originally a nurse at the Penang General Hospital, who had previously served as the first Secretary to the Board of Governors and as a teacher at the school. Lee persuaded businessmen and entrepreneurs in Penang to give opportunities to the deaf children to gain work experience at their companies. FSD students who completed Standard 6 received offers to work at companies doing printing, sewing, and other trades.
Lee (known as Dato' Hajah Saleena Yahaya Isa after her conversion to Islam) also increased the length of courses from 6 years to 10 years. Years 8, 9 and 10 received on-the-job vocational training after school. The first students to sit for the Lower Certificate of Education (L.C.E.) were registered 1969, with a 100% pass rate. Secondary education was finally offered at FSD from 1970.
Due to the growth of the school, the site at Northam Road was deemed to be inadequate, and the Board of Governors, decided to relocated the school to a new site. At the end of 1963, a 12-hectare site at Vale of Tempe Road (Jalan Lembah Permai) in Tanjong Bungah was bought at 65 cents per square foot, with Mr (later Tan Sri) Loh Boon Siew
, the director of the company that sold the land, sponsoring 15 cents per square foot. The Ministry of Rural Development of Malaysia contributed $500,000 for the construction of school buildings. The school at Northam Road was sold at the price $340,000 to fund the new school at Tanjung Bungah.
Pursuant to the agreement between the school and the buyer, the school would remain at the old premises for two years until the new school was scheduled to open in 1965. Unfortunately, the school was not completed within the two years. The Board of Governors suggested that the school close down until the problem was solved, but the principal, Mrs Saleena objected to the disruption to the children's education, and turned to the State Education Department, through the Inspector of Chinese Schools, for help. As a result Shih Chung Primary School was chosen to accommodate the FSD students during the afternoon session. The problem of hostelling was solved by placing the boys at the Charity Home next to Eastern & Oriental Hotel
, while the girls were placed at Poh Leung Kok (now Cheshire Home). The school's office was placed at the Trustees Office at the High Court. Six months later, the school was reunited in a building at Poh Leung Kok, after the authorities of Poh Leung Kok allowed the school to use the whole of its premises.
The school was finally reopened in 1970, the opening ceremony was attended by the first Malaysians Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman
. At the same time, the school became the first deaf school to receive government-aided status.
. However, the deaf students found it difficult to cope with the teaching at those schools, and the FSD subsequently expanded to teach at the higher secondary level.
Eleanor Culas who was the first FSD student to study at Gallaudet University
, which is a special education university for deaf students at Washington D.C., U.S.A.. She was impressed with the "Manual Signs" method used by the deaf communities in the United States. She was convinced that this method would be useful in Malaysia. Culas was not satisfied with the current system used in Malaysia, where a Manchester-based Oral method was adopted. Therefore, Eleanor asked Prof. Frances M. Parsons, who was a sign language expert, to stop-by in Malaysia and share her expertise in the "Manual Signs" or "Total Communication
" with the FSD teachers.
In 1976, Prof. Parsons visited FSD, and persuaded Saleena and other teachers that the Total Communication
system would help to increase the understanding and mastery of sign language. In order to prove the effectiveness of the system, Parsons started a Total Communication class and demonstrated the "Manual Sign" method to FSD teachers for one month. Meanwhile, Saleena arranged a meeting between Parsons with Dr Mahathir bin Mohammad, the Minister of Education, where Parsons explained the effectiveness of the system was comparable to learning by hearing. The Ministry of Education approved a pilot class that used only Total Communication, and FSD was chosen to experiment with this method. The class was given 5 years to test its effectiveness. However, after 3 years of probation, the Total Communication class was proved far better than the Oral communication class.
(1961–1987) Mrs. Saleena Yahaya Isa (Miss Lee Kooi Jong)
(1987–1990) Mr. Francis Chai Voon Oon
(1990–1995) Mrs. Chan Sew Lian
(1995–1996) Mrs. Yeoh Suan Choo
(1997–present) Mrs. Mui Siew Koon
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
, Malaysia. Currently located at 600H, Vale of Tempe Road, 11200 Tanjung Bungah, it was the pioneer deaf school in Malaysia.
History of the establishment
Gerald Templer
Field Marshal Sir Gerald Walter Robert Templer KG, GCB, GCMG, KBE was a British military commander. He is best known for his defeat of the guerrilla rebels in Malaya between 1952 and 1954...
, British High Commissioner in Malaya, during an official visit to Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
.
On 9 December 1952, Lady Templer chaired a special meeting at the Residency (official residence of the Resident Commissioner
Resident Commissioner
Resident Commissioner is the title of several, quite different types of Commissioner in overseas possession or protectorate of the British Crown or of the United States.-British English:...
of Penang), which agreed to channel funds for the establishment of a school for the deaf. In 1954, the Federation School for the Deaf officially opened its doors at No. 47, Northam Road, George Town, Penang
George Town, Penang
George Town was voted as one of the best cities in Asia by Asiaweek, ranked 6th in 1998 and 9th in 2000. More recently, George Town has improved a notch to rank as the 9th most liveable city in Asia in a survey of 254 cities worldwide according to an international location ratings survey by , an...
. It was the first school for the deaf in Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
, and offered primary education to deaf students. R.P. Bingham, the Resident Commissioner of Penang, supported the establishment and became the first Chairman of the Board of Governors.
The school 1954-1961
Miss J. M. Hickes was appointed as the first principal of the school. At the beginning, the school housed only seven students and two teachers. The entry age was not fixed, with some students entering at 3 or 4 and others at 9. By 1959, the number of students had increased to 60 students. Students who completed Standard 6 did not continue their education, but were given the opportunity to gain vocational skills such as sewing, woodworking and repairing. At that time, the school was not funded by the Government, but was organised by volunteers and non-government organisations.Towards secondary education (1961 - 1970)
Lee (known as Dato' Hajah Saleena Yahaya Isa after her conversion to Islam) also increased the length of courses from 6 years to 10 years. Years 8, 9 and 10 received on-the-job vocational training after school. The first students to sit for the Lower Certificate of Education (L.C.E.) were registered 1969, with a 100% pass rate. Secondary education was finally offered at FSD from 1970.
Due to the growth of the school, the site at Northam Road was deemed to be inadequate, and the Board of Governors, decided to relocated the school to a new site. At the end of 1963, a 12-hectare site at Vale of Tempe Road (Jalan Lembah Permai) in Tanjong Bungah was bought at 65 cents per square foot, with Mr (later Tan Sri) Loh Boon Siew
Loh Boon Siew
Tan Sri Dato' Loh Boon Siew also known as “Mr Honda”, was a Penangite tycoon and the first sole distributor of Honda motorcycles in Malaysia.-Early life:...
, the director of the company that sold the land, sponsoring 15 cents per square foot. The Ministry of Rural Development of Malaysia contributed $500,000 for the construction of school buildings. The school at Northam Road was sold at the price $340,000 to fund the new school at Tanjung Bungah.
Pursuant to the agreement between the school and the buyer, the school would remain at the old premises for two years until the new school was scheduled to open in 1965. Unfortunately, the school was not completed within the two years. The Board of Governors suggested that the school close down until the problem was solved, but the principal, Mrs Saleena objected to the disruption to the children's education, and turned to the State Education Department, through the Inspector of Chinese Schools, for help. As a result Shih Chung Primary School was chosen to accommodate the FSD students during the afternoon session. The problem of hostelling was solved by placing the boys at the Charity Home next to Eastern & Oriental Hotel
Eastern & Oriental Hotel
The Eastern & Oriental Hotel is a colonial-style hotel in Penang that was established in 1885 by the Armenian Sarkies Brothers. The sea-fronting hotel is known for its luxurious accommodation and restaurants. The address is at 10 Lebuh Farquhar.The Eastern Hotel was founded by the brothers in 1884...
, while the girls were placed at Poh Leung Kok (now Cheshire Home). The school's office was placed at the Trustees Office at the High Court. Six months later, the school was reunited in a building at Poh Leung Kok, after the authorities of Poh Leung Kok allowed the school to use the whole of its premises.
FSD as a government aided school
Tunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, AC, CH was Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya from 1955, and the country's first Prime Minister from independence in 1957. He remained as the Prime Minister after Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore joined the...
. At the same time, the school became the first deaf school to receive government-aided status.
From Oral Communication to Total Communication
Initially, Form 4 and 5 students were attached to normal schools such as Sekolah Menengah Jelutong and Sekolah Menengah Tanjung Bungah in PenangPenang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
. However, the deaf students found it difficult to cope with the teaching at those schools, and the FSD subsequently expanded to teach at the higher secondary level.
Eleanor Culas who was the first FSD student to study at Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
, which is a special education university for deaf students at Washington D.C., U.S.A.. She was impressed with the "Manual Signs" method used by the deaf communities in the United States. She was convinced that this method would be useful in Malaysia. Culas was not satisfied with the current system used in Malaysia, where a Manchester-based Oral method was adopted. Therefore, Eleanor asked Prof. Frances M. Parsons, who was a sign language expert, to stop-by in Malaysia and share her expertise in the "Manual Signs" or "Total Communication
Total Communication
Total Communication is an approach to deaf education that aims to make use of a number of modes of communication such as signed, oral, auditory, written and visual aids, depending on the particular needs and abilities of the child.-History:...
" with the FSD teachers.
In 1976, Prof. Parsons visited FSD, and persuaded Saleena and other teachers that the Total Communication
Total Communication
Total Communication is an approach to deaf education that aims to make use of a number of modes of communication such as signed, oral, auditory, written and visual aids, depending on the particular needs and abilities of the child.-History:...
system would help to increase the understanding and mastery of sign language. In order to prove the effectiveness of the system, Parsons started a Total Communication class and demonstrated the "Manual Sign" method to FSD teachers for one month. Meanwhile, Saleena arranged a meeting between Parsons with Dr Mahathir bin Mohammad, the Minister of Education, where Parsons explained the effectiveness of the system was comparable to learning by hearing. The Ministry of Education approved a pilot class that used only Total Communication, and FSD was chosen to experiment with this method. The class was given 5 years to test its effectiveness. However, after 3 years of probation, the Total Communication class was proved far better than the Oral communication class.
List of FSD principals
(1954–1961) Miss J.M. Hicks (Mrs. J.M. Sundram)(1961–1987) Mrs. Saleena Yahaya Isa (Miss Lee Kooi Jong)
(1987–1990) Mr. Francis Chai Voon Oon
(1990–1995) Mrs. Chan Sew Lian
(1995–1996) Mrs. Yeoh Suan Choo
(1997–present) Mrs. Mui Siew Koon