Former students of Father Barre’s Convent in Sungai Petani, Kedah, said they were indebted to several illustrious personalities, including missionary teaching nuns, who had touched their lives immensely.
The convent, established in 1933, is named after French philosophy and theology lecturer Father Nicholas Barre, who founded the Infant Jesus Sisters (IJS) missionary.
Former student R Shanmugasunthari, 78, said the sisters from IJS had imparted quality education and skills to young Malaysian girls.
“Although they were French teachers, the IJS-affiliated schools displayed exemplary academic performance and their students’ command of the English language was second to none.
“The teaching sisters remained firmly in charge and their no-nonsense approach produced legions of students, many of whom went on to assume leadership roles in society,” said Shanmugasunthari during a reunion of the convent’s Class of 1964 (Form 5) in Kuala Lumpur last month.
Shanmugasunthari, who later became a teacher, reminisced about the dedication of the IJS sisters who established other convents in the country, including Convent Light Street in Penang, the oldest girls’ school in the country.
“We were fortunate to have had the missionary sisters who sacrificed so much to travel to the Far East.
“They struggled against all odds to build an establishment that aimed to produce young women of good character, able to boldly face the challenges of adult life after school.
“It was Father Barre’s belief that education was the best way for impoverished people to get out of the unforgiving and vicious poverty cycle,” she said.
Wong Siew Fong, who flew in from Perth, Australia, for the reunion, said the IJS sisters taught a variety of subjects, ranging from mathematics to home science, arts, handicraft, sewing and gardening.
Be Chew Kee remembered one Sister St John, who taught them vocational studies, ballet, and Scottish and Irish dances.
“There was a mix of local students of all races and expatriates. We enjoyed our time in school.”
Kung Guat Ha said she had looked forward to the reunion as many of them had not met for almost 60 years although they kept in touch via WhatsApp.
The group’s former classmates included the late rights activist Irene Fernandez, who headed Tenaganita and fought for orphans, destitute widows, migrant workers and refugees.