Education · Chinese communities · Historical archives
A confidential report prepared in Tandjong-Pandan on 18 February 1946 records two Chinese schools by name: Kian Sin and Tjoeng Fa. It preserves the names of their head teachers and teaching staff, pupil numbers and a description of lessons. These details offer a rare glimpse of Chinese education in post-war Billiton.
Pupils: approximately 350.
Classes: one preparatory class and five lower-education classes; the report states that a sixth class had not yet opened for lack of pupils.
Head teacher: Lim Seng Giok.
Teachers listed: nine people, including the head teacher.
Pupils: approximately 335.
Classes: six, including a preparatory class.
Head teacher: Tjhin So Nam.
Teachers listed: ten people, including the head teacher.
Curriculum: described as the same as Kian Sin’s.
The following names are transcribed from section II, Chineesche Scholen, printed page 2 (PDF page 3) of the February 1946 report. These are historical spellings, not verified modern personal-name spellings. The lists describe teaching staff in 1946, not necessarily the schools’ founders.
| No. | Name in 1946 report | Recorded role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lim Seng Giok | Head teacher |
| 2 | Lie Po Tjhie | Teacher |
| 3 | Jong Tjhoe Loen | Teacher |
| 4 | Lioe Sim Khoen | Teacher |
| 5 | Then Boei Ling | Teacher |
| 6 | Tam Tock Siong | Teacher |
| 7 | Tjhin Tjin Soe | Teacher |
| 8 | Bong Kit Sin | Teacher |
| 9 | Djie Djit Foei | Teacher |
| No. | Name in 1946 report | Recorded role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tjhin So Nam | Head teacher |
| 2 | Tjhia Sian Jioe | Teacher |
| 3 | Tjoen Njan Siong | Teacher |
| 4 | Lim Jan Tjhong | Teacher |
| 5 | Ko Soek Jin | Teacher |
| 6 | Tjo Kin Jin | Teacher |
| 7 | Lim To Jin | Teacher |
| 8 | Tjhai Ngi Sen | Teacher |
| 9 | Set Kloen Tet | Teacher |
| 10 | Bong Lip Soen | Teacher |
For Kian Sin, the report describes Mandarin Chinese, arithmetic, writing Chinese characters, biology and general manners in the first class. Later classes added drawing, elementary English, geography, history and natural science. Preparatory pupils received gymnastics, singing, drawing and introductory Chinese-character writing. The report says Tjoeng Fa followed the same programme.
On printed page 1 (PDF page 2), the report lists a Chinese association named (Billiton) Chung Hwa Chung Hwee, with its clubhouse in Societeitstraat and named officers. This is evidence of an association, not by itself evidence of a school called Chung Hwa. Whether a separate Chung Hwa school existed in Tandjong Pandan, who founded it and when, remain open research questions.
Another historical account used on Simpur Talang reports six private Chinese schools in 1926. The places enumerated in the existing summary account for only five; the identity of the sixth and any institutional continuity with the schools documented in 1946 remain unverified.
The 1946 report identifies head teachers and staff, but does not identify the founders or give a founding date for either school. Its address column records some teachers living in school buildings, but this should not be treated as a verified street address for the school itself. Additional school registers, association records and photographs would help fill these gaps.
Nationaal Archief, The Hague, collection 2.10.62, inventory no. 871; Rapport Chineesche Zaken, Tandjong-Pandan, 18 February 1946, section I, Chineesche Vereenigingen (printed p. 1 / PDF p. 2), and section II, Chineesche Scholen (printed p. 2 / PDF p. 3). File identifier: 374200.1_NL-HaNA_2.10.62_871-Tjoeng-Euwjong. Transcriptions are provisional where the typescript is unclear.
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