SMJK Sam Tet

Coordinates: 4°35′39″N 101°05′20″E / 4.594071°N 101.088939°E / 4.594071; 101.088939

SMJK Sam Tet
三德国民型华文中学
Sāndé Guómínxíng Zhōngxué

忠誠勤樸
Location
5, Church Road, 30300
Ipoh, Perak Darul Ridzwan
 Malaysia
Information
Type Secondary School
Established 1 September 1934
School code AEB2053
Principal Lau Swee Mun
Enrollment ~3000
Website www.smjk.edu.my

SMJK Sam Tet is a national-type boys' secondary school located in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. It is located side-by-side with its primary school, SRJK (C) Sam Tet. The founder of the school is Father Fourgs from the local St. Michael Catholic Church. During the early stages, the school has survived hardships, including the Japanese Occupation. The school's form 6 classes are available to both boys and girls, with former girls from SMJK Ave Maria Convent, Ipoh being the biggest population of girls. In 2007, the school has been nominated for School of Excellence and Cluster School of Excellence on 2015.

History

Early school planning

The history of SMJK Sam Tet is closely related to the progress of its primary school, SRJK Sam Tet, built in 1934. SMJK Sam Tet owes its existence to Father Fourgs from the local Catholic Church. Being displeased with the high percentage of illiteracy amongst the local populace, he organized a meeting with the parish community to discuss the issue at hand. The outcome of that meeting was a plan to construct a Chinese medium school for the predominantly Chinese community. A committee was formed to collect donations and to look into other relevant matters pertaining to said plan. The people showed great interest and responded encouragingly to help in financial matters. Thus, an administrative board was appointed to register the school with the government. Father Fourgs was elected as the first school supervisor under the leadership of Mr. Wong Chin Sun as the headmaster.[1]

Pre-World War II

The first class started on September 1, 1934 with a total of 64 students in 2 classes. In the following year, with an increase in the number of students, the need for more educators increased in tandem. In view of this, the Board of Governors from the local Catholic Church decided to aid in the administration of the school by allocating funds annually.

At the end of the year 1935, Mr. Wong Chin Sun retired as the headmaster and was replaced by Mr. Phoong Tet Ching in 1936. In the same year, the school had a total of 160 students and 6 teachers sharing 4 classrooms. It was in this year, that Father Fourgs, the founder of the school, passed away. Father Francis took charge as the school’s new supervisor.

In 1940, SRJK Sam Tet decided to build an additional 6 classrooms but the grim grip of World War II on Malaysia forced the project to be put on-hold.[1]

Post-World War II

After the war ended in 1945, lessons resumed and the building project was completed in 1947. The school underwent further expansion three years later with the help of a Catholic school in Singapore. Three Brothers were assigned to the school in 1950. A proper school building for SMJK Sam Tet was erected in 1951.

At the beginning of 1952, three Junior Middle I classes were started under the leadership of Brother Joseph Wong as the principal. An additional three classes started a year later and went into full operation. In 1954, Brother Joseph Wong was replaced by Brother Joche-Chanel Soon, who later founded Maris Stella High School, Singapore. It was also in this year that the first batch of Junior Middle III students graduated. A total of eight classes were in-service.

In 1955, Brother Marcel was appointed principal of the school. Under his leadership, an additional four classrooms, a science lab and a canteen were built. The school was upgraded to a National Type School in 1958 and the students sat for the L.C.E. examination. It was in this year that Brother Marcel left the school on a transfer.

SMJK Sam Tet continued to progress rapidly under the leadership of Brother John Moh who succeeded Brother Marcel in 1959. He organised several donation drives to extend the premises and purchase sports equipment. His effort paid off with the construction of a new 3-storey building. The school hall was erected in 1970 with the cost of RM200,000. Other facilities such as the library, the staff room and the administration office were included above the hall. The hall was opened by the Yang Mulia Raja Di Hilir Perak Darul Ridzuan on 5 June 1971.

1971 marks the beginning of form 6 classes, with an enrolment of 37 students. Further additions were made to the school in 1973. A 3-storey science block was constructed. The building was named after the late Mr. Ng Song Teik, the brother of Dato’ Ng Song Choon. The ground floor of the building comprises the school canteen. The building was opened by the Yang Berhormat Haji Mohamed bin Yaacob, Minister of Education, on 11 May 1974.

Inside view of Bro. John Moh Hall

In 1976, SMJK Sam Tet celebrated its 25th anniversary. The occasion was officiated by Mr. Chan Siang Sun J.P., J.S.M., Deputy Minister of Education.

Due to the student population increased steadily, all it's land was exhausted and the facilities were inadequate to accommodate the increasing populace. To meet the demand for more buildings, Brother John Moh, with the aid of the Administrative Board, purchased more land to erect yet another phase of buildings. This new phase was completed in 1985.

In the year 1992, Brother John Moh retired after 34 years of service as Principal of the school. In honour of his services, the school hall was named after him. He was succeeded by Mr Mok Soon Sang who was promoted to the office of principal. Upon his retirement at the end of 1992, Mr Yu Cheng Sun was assigned to take his office. The school continued to expand rapidly with a total of 66 classes, enrolment of 2,423 students and a 137 strong staff.

Mr Toh Ah Huat took office as the school principal in 1999 and served the school for 3 years after which he was succeeded by Mr Loh Ghee Juan as the new principal of the school. In 2002, the official website was launched.[1]

Expansions

Brother John Moh Hall expanded with an air-conditioner installed and an LCD projector on the stage. The PA system has also been upgraded. Extensive upgrading works, including the installation of the air conditioner mentioned beforehand, as well as an overhead bridge and the expansion of the staff room and library was initiated through events e.g. Jogathon since 2007 and completed before the June holidays ended in 2009.

Near the end of 2014, the hall upgraded again. The lightning changed into ceiling-mounted lights and the doors were replaced.

During the mid-term holiday of 2015, the hall mounted LED lamps at the corner of the hall, meanwhile a third lecture hall was added right above the library for co-curricular purposes. The school also rebuilds the classroom floor, staircase and school field during the end-year holiday of 2015.

Name, symbols and missions

School name

School flag

The Chinese name of Sam Tet is 三德, which means "Three Virtues". The three moral values mentioned are:

School emblem

Current school song

School flag

The colours of the school flag each represent a moral value as described in the name explanation section above.

School song

The school song was composed by Mr. Wong Ming Fah, lyrics by Bro. Saw Fatt Lean, written in Chinese. The school song then merged with the primary school song, only the first line was changed.

School vision

"Pendidikan berkualiti, insan terdidik, negara sejahtera"

School mission

"Melestarikan system pendidikan yang berkualiti untuk membangunkan potensi individu bagi memenuhi aspirasi negara."

Achievements

Academic achievements

In 1987 the school achieved 100% passes in the STPM examinations. Out of the 13 students nationwide who scored 5As, eight came from SMJK Sam Tet. The years 1991 and 1994, 11 students scoring straight 5As in STPM. In 1996, 20 students achieved 5As and procured the school a national record. In the year 1998, 28 students scored 5As in STPM and SMJK Sam Tet entered the ‘Malaysian Book of Records’ for academic achievement.

Other achievements

On 29 January 2014, A total of 1000 SMJK Sam Tet students were involved in the 'Longest Chinese Calligraphy (挥春)' program in Malaysia which successfully made it into the Malaysia Book of Records. The work, which contains 4,000 Chinese characters and measures about 2.5 km long, was completed within five days. All of the teachers and students took part in this historical event, marking yet another milestone in our school's achievements. Its words of blessing were meant for the Chinese New Year celebration.

SMJK Sam Tet has made it into the Malaysia Book of Records for the second time when staff and students organised a mass "zongzi" (sticky rice dumplings) making event at their school field on 15 June 2015 in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese Dumpling Festival. A total of 2000 participants took part in the half-hour-long event, producing 2015 dumplings. Perak State Executive Councillor, Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, who launched the event, said the event promoted Chinese and ketupat cultures.[2]

In 2015, SMJK Sam Tet was branded a Cluster School of Excellence (Sekolah Kluster Kecemerlangan) by the Ministry of Education Malaysia.[3]

Notable alumni

Administration

School administration

These details are correct as of 1 January 2016.

Former headmasters

External links

References

  1. 1 2 3 "SMJK School Portal - SMJK SAM TET". www.smjk.edu.my. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  2. ↑ "SMJK School Portal - SMJK SAM TET". www.smjk.edu.my. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  3. ↑ "SMJK School Portal - SMJK SAM TET". www.smjk.edu.my. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
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