Tamil Schools in the Federated Malay States under British Colonial Rule 1895-1941

Authors

https://doi.org/10.17583/hse.14966

Keywords:


Downloads

Abstract

In the time of British rule of the Federated Malay States (FMS) from 1895 to 1941, many Indians, especially the Tamils from South India, were brought in as labourers. Long-term Tamil primary schools were established to cater to their children's educational needs. This article presents a historical investigation of the development, challenges, and disparity faced by Tamil primary schools in the FMS between 1895-1941. The study employs thematic content analysis to study the primary and secondary historical sources. The findings report that four themes surrounding challenges and disparity emerged among Tamil schools in the FMS, namely building and equipment; subjects and syllabi; schoolteachers; and teacher training. The study underscores the development of Tamil schools in the FMS, the significant issues faced by the schools under British colonial rule, and the implications for children of Tamil migrants. Significantly, this study contributes new knowledge towards the history of education during British colonialism, emphasising the crucial role of Tamil schools in preserving language and culture and potentially shaping future research in this area.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Rachel Bleeze, The University of Adelaide

Dr Bleeze has held various teaching positions at The University of New England, as well as Tabor College of Higher Education (South Australia). She received a 2018 Oceania Comparative and International Education Society New Scholar Award and was named the History Council of South Australia’s 2020 Emerging Historian of the Year. Rachel’s expertise in qualitative research methods previously led to her employment as a research consultant for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. More recently, Rachel was appointed as an Advisory Board Member for Heliyon. Her research focus on comparative and international education includes the existence of intercultural understanding in secondary classrooms and the ways in which curricula can develop students' sense of empathy with those who are different from themselves.

Ingrid Harrington, University of New England

Associate Professor Ingrid Harrington has been a member of the School of Education since 2004, and is part of the Learners, Learning and Teaching team. She specialises in classroom behaviour management, inclusive educational practices and educational psychology. She has long-standing research and teaching commitments with Germany and Malaysia, and has received five awards for teaching excellence at the University, State and National levels.

References

Adams, D & Lok, K. T. (2022). Teacher Education in Malaysia: Preparation, Practices, and Future Directions. In S. M. Khine & Y. Liu. (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Teacher Education: Innovations and Practices in Asia (pp. 95-110). Springer.

Google Scholar Crossref

Ampalavanar, R. (1981). The Indian minority and political change in Malaya. Oxford University Press.

Google Scholar Crossref

Arasaratnam, S. (1978). Christianity, Traditional Cultures and Nationalism: The South Asian Experience. Jaffna College Publications.

Google Scholar Crossref

Arasaratnam, S. (1970). Indians in Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.

Google Scholar Crossref

Alatas, S. H. (1977). The Myth of the Lazy Native: A Study of the Image of the Malays, Filipinos and Javanese from the 16th to the 20th Century and Its Function in the Ideology of Colonial Capitalism. Routledge.

Google Scholar Crossref

Belle, C. V. (2015). Tragic Orphans Indians in Malaysia. ISEAS Publishing.

Google Scholar Crossref

Conrad, S. (2016). What is Global History? Princeton University Press.

Google Scholar Crossref

Cooke, F. D. (1966). The mission schools of Malaya, 1815 – 1942. Paedagogica Historica, 6(2), 346-399.

Google Scholar Crossref

Cheeseman, H. R. (1946). Cheeseman’s Report on Malayan Education. (Call No: 1957/0341854). National Archives of Malaysia.

Google Scholar Crossref

Chelliah, D. D. (1940). The History of the Educational Policy of the Straits Settlements: With Recommendations for a New System Based on Vernaculars. The Government Press.

Google Scholar Crossref

Collinge, B. H. (1905). Annual Report on Education Department for the Year 1905. (Call No: 1957/0127759). National Archives of Malaysia.

Google Scholar Crossref

Datta, A. (2010 - 2011). "Tracing The Roots of Marginalization of Indians in Malaysia: Alienation of "Bhumiputras" During The Colonial Period." Proceedings of the Indian History Congress 71(2010-2011): 900-910.

Google Scholar Crossref

Dass, D. S. (1972). Tamil Education in West Malaysia and Singapore 1860 - 1970 [master’s thesis, University of Malaya]. University of Malaya Library.

Google Scholar Crossref

Director of Education: SS and FMS. (1916). Allocation of Grant in-aid to English and Tamil Schools in Selangor for the year 1916. (Call No: 1957/0193881). National Archives of Malaysia.

Google Scholar Crossref

Federation of Christian Mission Schools Malaysia (2022, September 3). Directory of Christian Mission Schools in Malaysia. https://www.fcmsm.org/

Google Scholar Crossref

Firmstone, W. H. (1918). Federated Malay States. Annual Report on Education in Federated Malay States for the year 1918. (Call No: 1957/0607894). National Archives of Malaysia.

Google Scholar Crossref

Firmstone, W. H. (1917). Federated Malay States. Annual Report on Education in the Federated Malay States for the year 1917. (Call No: 1957/0606088). National Archives of Malaysia.

Google Scholar Crossref

Inspector of Schools Selangor, (1933). Saraswathi Tamil School, Scott Road, Kuala Lumpur. (Call No: 1957/0278347). National Archives of Malaysia.

Google Scholar Crossref

Inspector of Schools Selangor. (1919). Grants – in Aid for 1919, Tamil Schools. (Call No: 1957/0208918). National Archives of Malaysia.

Google Scholar Crossref

Jomaron, A. C. (1928). Question Submitted for consideration of Residents. (Call No: 1957/0255368). National Archives of Malaysia.

Google Scholar Crossref

Grants to Aided Tamil Schools Selangor. (1924). Office of the Inspector of Schools, Selangor. (Call No: 1957/0234918). National Archives of Malaysia.

Google Scholar Crossref

Gilman, E. W. F. (1923). Labour in British Malaya. Fraser and Neave, Limited, Printers.

Google Scholar Crossref

Hodelin-ter Wal, K. (2019). "‘The Worldly Advantage It Gives …’ Missionary Education, Migration and Intergenerational Mobility in the Long Nineteenth Century, Ceylon and Malaya 1816– 1916." Journal of Interdisciplinary Economics 31(1): 5-23. https://doi.org/10.1177/0260107918770952

Google Scholar Crossref

Hashim, R. (2004). Educational Dualism in Malaysia: Implications for Theory and Practice. The Other Press.

Google Scholar Crossref

Holgate, R. (1949). Federation of Malaya Annual Report on Education for 1948. (Call No: 2006/0014420). National Archives of Malaysia.

Google Scholar Crossref

Holgate, R. (1948). Annual Report on Education for 1948. (Call No: 2006/0014419). National Archives of Malaysia.

Google Scholar Crossref

Hendershot, E. V. (1941). An Historical Critique of The Educational System of British Malaya. [Doctoral dissertation, University of Southern California].

Google Scholar Crossref

Kaur, A. (2014). Migrant Labor and Welfare in Southeast Asia. In N. G. Owen (Ed.), Handbook of Southeast Asian History. (pp. 165–177). Routledge.

Google Scholar Crossref

Khalid, M. (2014). The Colour of Inequality: Ethnicity, Class, Income and Wealth in Malaysia. MPH Publishing.

Google Scholar Crossref

Krishnan, P., Dali, M, A., Ghazali, Z, A., & Subramaniam, S. (2014). The History of Toddy Drinking and Its Effects on Indian Labourers in Colonial Malaya, 1900 – 1957. Asian Journal of Social Science, 42:3/4, 321 – 382.

Google Scholar Crossref

Kandasamy, M. & Raman, S. (1998). Pre-service Teacher education within the framework of Inter-ethnic Relations: A Malaysian Historical Perspective. Paedagogica Historica, 34:sup2. 293 – 309. DOI: 10.1080/00309230.1998.11434920

Google Scholar Crossref

Kim, K. K. (1974). Malay Society, 1874 - 1920. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 5:2, 179 – 198.

Google Scholar Crossref

Kee, F. W. H., & Hong, T. E. (1975). Education in Malaysia. Heinemann Educational Books (Asia) Ltd.

Google Scholar Crossref

Kee, F. W. H., & Hean, G. Y. (1972). Perspective: The development of education in Malaysia and Singapore. Heinemann Educational Books (Asia) Ltd.

Google Scholar Crossref

Kapar District Planters Association (1913). Teachers for Estate Tamil Schools. (Call No: 1957/0168542). National Archives of Malaysia.

Google Scholar Crossref

Klang Tamil Community. (1907). Forward Petition from the Tamil Community of Klang regarding the present situation of the Tamil School, Klang. (Call No: p. 4704/1907). National Archives of Malaysia.

Google Scholar Crossref

Manickam, J. R. (2009). The Malaysian Indian Dilemma: The Struggles and Agony of the Indian Community in Malaysia. Nationwide Human Development and Research Centre.

Google Scholar Crossref

Mariasoosay, T. (1996). Perspectives on Language Policies in Malaysia. [master’s thesis, University of Durham].

Google Scholar Crossref

Ministry of Education, (1967). Educational Statistics of Malaysia 1938 to 1967. Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka.

Google Scholar Crossref

Mills, L. A. (1966). British Malaya 1824-67. Oxford University Press.

Google Scholar Crossref

Mahajani, U. (1960). The Role of the Indian Minorities in Burma and Malaya. Greenwood Press.

Google Scholar Crossref

Murthy, P. A. M. K. (1932, December 10). Depressed Classes in Malaya. Malayan Saturday Post, p.36.

Google Scholar Crossref

Ong, H. S. (1950). The Malayan School of The Future. The Straits Times, p.6.

Google Scholar Crossref

Pennycook, A. (1998). English and the discourses of Colonialism. Routledge.

Google Scholar Crossref

Raja, S. S. (2012). A short history of Tamil Schools in Malaya/Malaysia. https://grfdt.com/PublicationDetails.aspx?Type=Articles&TabId=7051

Google Scholar Crossref

Raman, R. S., & Sua, Y. T. (2010). Ethnic segregation in Malaysia’s education system: enrolment choices preferential policies and desegregation. Paedagogica Historica, 46:1-2, 117-131, DOI: 10.1080/00309230903528496

Google Scholar Crossref

Ramasamy, R. (1988). Sojourners to Citizens: Sri Lankan Tamils in Malaysia 1885 – 1965. Sri Veera Trading Sdn. Bhd.

Google Scholar Crossref

Ramakrishna Mission. (1941, May 11). Good Progress of Tamil Education. Sunday Tribune, p.16.

Google Scholar Crossref

Saint Theresa’s Convent Taiping Perak. (2024). School History.

Google Scholar Crossref

https://sjktsttheresa.com/history.php

Google Scholar Crossref

Shanmugavelu, G., Ariffin, K., Thambu, N., & Mahayudin, Z. (2020). Development of British Colonial Education in Malaya, 1816 - 1957. International Journal of Education, 8(2), 10-15. https://doi.org/10.34293/education.v8i2.2072

Google Scholar Crossref

Sua, Y. T. (2019). Educational Development in Malaysia: Issues and Challenges. SIRD.

Google Scholar Crossref

Soong, K. K. (2019). 200 Years of Chinese Education in Malaysia: A Protean Saga. Malaysian Centre for Ethnic Studies.

Google Scholar Crossref

Saad, A, M., & Haniffa, A, M. (2019). Perkembangan Latihan Perguruan di Tanah Melayu sebelum dan selepas Merdeka. Sejarah: Journal of History Department, University of Malaya, 28(1), 102-117.

Google Scholar Crossref

Subramaniam, M., & Muniandy, R. (2006). On Communalism in Indian Malaysian: Origin, Classification, Kinship and Religious Beliefs. Journal of Indian Studies, 9, 110-116.

Google Scholar Crossref

Schiffman, F.H. (2002). Malaysian Tamils and Tamil linguistic culture. Language & Communication, 22, 159 – 169.

Google Scholar Crossref

Sandhu, K. (1969). Indians in Malaya: Some aspects of their immigration and settlement. Cambridge University Press.

Google Scholar Crossref

Sundaram. (1933, September 13). Dr. Sundaram on Tamils in Malaya. The Straits Times, p.13.

Google Scholar Crossref

Selangor Secretariat. (1923). Vivekananda Tamil School Kuala Lumpur – Petitions against conversion into an Elementary Tamil School. (Call No: 1957/022484W). National Archives of Malaysia.

Google Scholar Crossref

Selangor Secretariat. (1910). Site for a Tamil School at Klang. (Call No: 2256/1910). National Archives Malaysia.

Google Scholar Crossref

Selangor Secretariat. (1909). Re-attendance of Tamil children at Rantau School. (Call No: 1957/0437595W). National Archives of Malaysia.

Google Scholar Crossref

Selangor Secretariat. (1892). Tamil School – Suggests the opening of one in Kuala Lumpur. (Call No: 1957/0035847/W). National Archives of Malaysia.

Google Scholar Crossref

Selangor Secretariat. (1886). Regarding the establishment of a Tamil Govt. School. (Call No: 1957/0004942W). National Archives of Malaysia.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Vivekananda Ashrama Kuala Lumpur. (2024). History.

Google Scholar Crossref

https://www.vivekanandaashrama.com/history

Google Scholar Crossref

Tan, Y. S. D., & Darit, S. M. (2015). The Emergence and Widening of Ethnic Divide in the Malaysian Educational System. Strategic Information and Research Development Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

Google Scholar Crossref

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (1948). Federation of Malaya and Colony of Singapore: UNESCO Post-War Educational Survey. UNESCO.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Report of a Mission invited by the Federation Government to study the problem of the Chinese education in Malaya. (1951). Chinese Schools and the Education of Chinese Malaysians. The Government Press.

Google Scholar Crossref

Tamil Schools in Malaya. (1929, February 15). Labour Party Asking Questions. The Straits Times, p.9.

Google Scholar Crossref

Willford, C. A. (2014). History and recognition in Malaysia’s plantations: Tamils and the haunting of justice. NUS Press.

Google Scholar Crossref

Watson, K. (1993). Rulers and Ruled: Racial perceptions, curriculum and schooling in colonial Malaya and Singapore. In Mangan, A. J (Ed.), The Imperial Curriculum: Racial images and education in the British colonial experience (pp. 147-174). Routledge.

Google Scholar Crossref

Wah, K. Y. (1980). The Grooming of an Elite: Malay Administrators in the Federated Malay States, 1903 – 1941. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 11(2), 287 – 319. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022463400004483

Google Scholar Crossref

Wah, K. Y. (1971). British Policy Towards the Malays in the Federated Malay States 1920 – 40. [Doctoral thesis, Australian National University]. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/110683

Google Scholar Crossref

Wedgwood, J. C. (1929, February 15). Tamil Schools in Malaya. The Straits Times, p. 9.

Google Scholar Crossref

Winstedt, R. O. (1928). Code for Tamil Schools, Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States. (Call No: 1957/0255368). National Archives of Malaysia.

Google Scholar Crossref

Downloads

Published

2024-10-23

Almetric

Dimensions

How to Cite

Maniam, V., Bleeze, R. ., & Harrington, I. (2024). Tamil Schools in the Federated Malay States under British Colonial Rule 1895-1941 . Social and Education History, 13(3), 170–187. https://doi.org/10.17583/hse.14966

Issue

Section

Articles