PERKEMBANGAN SEKOLAH PEREMPUAN MELAYU DI NEGERINEGERI MELAYU BERSEKUTU, 1896-1941

Abstract

This article discusses the development of Malay girl’s schools in the Federated Malay States between 1896 and 1941. Before 1896, the education given to the Malays was informal. After the coming of Islam, women’s education changed with the introduction of religious education. Nevertheless secular educations for Malay girls existed at the end of the 19th century. The first Malay girl’s school was established in Teluk Belanga, Singapore in 1884 by the Johor Royal family. However, the development of women’s schools in the early stages were limited and slow. By the 1920s and 30s, however women’s education development began to show an increase in terms of the number of schools and the number of students. In that period, many Malays were educated either in Malay or English schools. The Middle East influence also alerted the Malays to the importance of education. This increased awareness among the Malays also convinced the British Government that education for girls should be given due attention. The highlight of this development was the establishment of the Malay Women’s Training College, Malacca (MWTC), in 1935, which carried the new wave in the development of women’s education.