Guong Ann Primary School, Sg. Merah 1901-1950

      

One of the nicest memories I have of Sg. Merah and my visits to my Grandfather were related to the play time at the primary school next to the Sing Ang Tong. I was friendly with the pastor's family, and often stayed to watch some basketball. But I also enjoyed running around in the wooden primary school building up on the hill. I was then not even in school, so having the opportunity to play in the class room, following my aunts around was really fun.

To be able to see a vast expanse of land from the top of the hill was breath taking. I still can hear the wife of the teachers, Mr. Wong, walking along the concrete floor of the corridors. She wore wooden clogs which made a lot of noise, and she had a very hoarse voice. Although she shouted a lot (a kind of disciplining children) I suspected all along she had a kind heart. She was the mother of the YB Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, and my teacher, Mr. Wong Soon Hong (later in Primary School in Sibu). Mr. Wong Soon Hong went to study dentistry in New Zealand. He was probably the first NZ trained Foochow dentist from Sibu. He taught us for one or two years before he left. Sg Merah  people then were so proud of him and his success.

The first primary school ( Guong Ann Primary School, Sg. Merah ) was established as the Anglo Chinese School by Wong Nai Siong. It was first sited on the northern bank of Sg. Merah, a place where the first Foochow pioneers stepped on 1901. According to written records, the pioneer teachers were actually private tutors engaged in the Chinese traditioal style. They taught in the attap hostel provided by the government.

From 1901 to 1902 the school was  Chinese medium. Later Rev Hoover introduced English as the medium of instruction. Several years later, one portion for bigger boys were brought to Bukit Lan still called Anglo Chinese School, and the other portion remained to be the beginning of Guong Ann School 

The Chinese names of the tutors were  Ting Liong Diu (陈良调 ) Tiong Siew Nguong (张少源秀才）and another one was Rev Wong Gie Jeng (with glasses) seen in the photo above.

After it was named Guong Ann (Light of Peace) the first Headmaster was Tiong Siew Nguong, a Siew Shi. It was also named Kwang Hua No 4 Primary School at one time. A few other pioneers taught in the school at that including Lau Tiew Kee, Ting Wong Ai Chuo and Sia ming Pu.

After 1925, the Board of Director was led by Lau Nguk Kwang assisted by Ting Cheng Hui. It was during this time, Ting Chiew Hing  and Wong King Gang joined the committee to build a new building for the school on the Guong Ann Hill on the south bank of Sg. Merah.

During the Japanese Occupation, the school was used by the Japanese as a Japanese school. The building next to the school was used as a Japanese military training camp. Unfortunately when the Allied Forces came to sibu the two buildings were badly damaged. (This was the school building which was renovated and one that I knew as a child.)

After the war, the school was renovated by the local community. Seven teachers started teaching and more than 2o0 students were enrolled, after 3 years and 8 months. The primary school slowly recovered as the community donated funds to help rebuild the school, and buy furniture.

(Source : 50th Anniversary of Methodist in Sarawak 1950)

Notes : The hill of the school was flattened in the 1970's to provide a bigger area for more school buildings. Today the primary school is one of the premier Chinese primary schools or SJK, by classificiations, with a very active School Board of Directors). It is still sited at the same place, next to the old Sing Ang Tong.