Kwong Hua School and Rev Wong King Huo

 The Kwong Hua School was established in 1916, making it one of the oldest Primary and Junior High schools in the Rajang, founded by the Foochow Pioneers.

The man behind the founding of the school was the far sighted Rev Wong King Huo. He was supported by the group of hardworking Kutien Foochow pioneers like Ting Hing Yu of Sg. Sadit. The first classes were taught in the family home of Ting.

(This photo was sent by Rev James Hoover to the USA, Methodist Conference. He is in the photo with Rev Wong King Huo's family) 

In 1919 Yek San Dak donated a piece of land for the school to be built much to the excitement of the villagers of Nang Chong, San Hor Chong (Sg. Sadit) and even Sungei Merah. It was a good school for both boys and girls who could not go to school in Sibu.

One of the earliest Headmasters of the school was the father of Temenggong Ting Lik Hung , Ting Chang Tang (who was a landed, educated, rubber planter as well)

After that there was a long series of Headmasters. The Japanese Occupation closed the school for a few years.

After the war  the big school supported by the Chinese community continued and prospered.

There was boys hostel facilities for those boys who could not go to Chung Cheng School. Girls from the vicinity came, instead of boarding in Yuk Ing Girls School.

In 1949 the school had enough funding to split into Primary and Secondary school as the school population was growing, with more day scholars due to the increase in population in the region. 

Graduation Day, 1949, January 15th photo shows how much financial assistance the local people were able to provide for the establishment of the school, and to build such a big school with belian.

Indeed Rev Wong King Huo started a good school with a good vision for the convenience of the the rubber tappers' children.

(According to family stories, my uncles Pang King and Soon King attended this school after the war before they went to study in Singapore where they gained an English education. I believe my uncles must be in this photo.)