Restoration of the Education System After a Previous Interruption – World War II

 “The whole educational system received a serious set-back as a result of the occupation by the Japanese. For almost four years of enemy occupation schooling declined to a very low level, both in quantity and quality, and institutions of higher education ceased to function. A formidable task of rehabilitation has faced the educational authorities since the territory was liberated in September, 1945, and we wish to record our admiration both of the achievements of the authorities and of the zeal of the pupils and students in renewing their studies.

Damage to school buildings was not on a large scale, but many of them were requisitioned by the services and there were long delays before they were available for school use. There have been very serious losses of furniture, equipment and books, but, in spite of all these difficulties, the schools have been brought into operation with commendable speed; within a few months of liberation schools in the Malayan Union had exceeded their 1941 enrolment figures, and in Singapore enrolment was doubled in the course of 1946. The problem of accommodation, already pressing in 1941, has thus become acute, for it has been necessary to provide for an accumulation of over-age pupils, whose schooling was interrupted by the Japanese occupation, and there is therefore an abnormal increase in enrolment. The pressure of pupils is so great that many English schools are compelled to work in two shifts daily. The difficulties have been greatly increased by the depletion of staff, as a result of death, retirement and change of employment; the wastage is particularly severe in European officers. Of other problems mention may be made of the shortage of transport, which affects everyone alike, whether inspectors, teachers or pupils. Nevertheless, education in the schools has made a fine recovery and it is noteworthy that it was possible to hold the School Certificate Examination in December, 1946. For some little time to come, rehabilitation will remain the foremost task of the education authorities, and this must govern the speed with which developments can move.”

From the REPORT OF THE COMMISSION ON UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN MALAYA (1948)