MCKK and Education – Academic

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MCKK Centenary 1905 – 2005
MCKK and Education – Academic

Post-WWII, MCKK re-opened with a new thrust- prepare Malay boys to become leaders and technocrats in various fields of professions

MCKK was closed when the World War II (1940-1945) was fought in Malaya. For another year after the war, the school building was still being used as a military hospital.

MCKK re-opened in 1947 – admissions now opened to all Malay boys, from remote kampungs up to royal palaces. Some were given UMNO scholarship, because Dato’ Onn wanted the college to continue training more Malay boys as future leaders. Headmastter Carey wanted Malays to turn their brains and channel their energy towards science-based subjects so that they could become more science-based professionals rather than art-based land administrators.

After the War, there was a shift in focus for MCKK towards becoming a full-fledge secondary school, to prepare the students for higher education in tertiary institutions- no longer the focus on public service. Curriculum was broader. Nevertheless, MCKK still benefited from its Federal status, which gave special attention for its development. Many of its graduates still entered public and diplomatic services; while others proceeded to become successful professionals in various fields.

Although MCKK was relegated to become just another secondary school after independence, the school continued to carry some of the past traditions established in the first 50 years of its existence. Perhaps, that’s what separates MCKK from other schools in the country.

Policy changed from English to Malay-medium in national education system to foster unity in nation-building effort.

Malay as a National language in education was accepted by all and contained in the Razak Report (1957). Education is a common building block to unite this nation with a shared future. The implementation of Malay language policy took just over 25 years to achieve success.

This policy eventually changed the scenario in the MCKK campus, making it less western in outlook. However, MCKK retains its elite flavour through its constant contact with its history supported by its past students who held pride in the school and passion for the alma mater for what it stands for.

More residential schools were built, modelled after MCKK.

To expand and broaden the benefits of the MCKK model, Tun Razak built more similar fully residential schools throughout the country. The first decade after 1957, the MCKK-modelled full-residential schools produced results, which were equal to , if not better than, those at the MCKK. Many of these premier schools were even named after the old boys of MCKK, such as Sekolah Dato’ Abdul Razak (SDAR, est. 1956), Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman (STAR, est. 1957), Sekolah Alam Shah (SAS, est. 1963). For the girls, there are Tunku Kurshiah College (TKC, est. 1947) and Sekolah Tun Fatimah (STF, est. 1956).

In 1972, Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) or MARA Junior Science Colleges, were set up, the brainchild of two MCKK men, Tun Razak and Wahab Alwi. To date, the 34 MRSMs produced the generations of future scientists, who were trained in modern concepts of learning the subject.

Whither MCKK?

Once upon a time, MCKK was not just an ordinary school- it was the training ground for Malay administrators for Malay leadership in politics, social organizations and commercial world. Institut Tadbir Awam Negara (INTAN) had its embryo from the Kuala Kangsar institution, much envied by many. Since losing its federal status, MCKK has lost its past glory, being reduced to just an ordinary school, just like hundreds of others- no more, no less!

Since the first symposium on the future of MCKK in 1989, few ideas were thrown around including privatization. Its future however, must be determined by all, including politicians; and narrow self-group interests must give way to bigger world view.

MCKK has served the nation and society well in the past- producing leaders and administrators in the nation during the period of transition, development, and growth. Today, graduates of MCKK are still making their presence felt in the nation, alongside other graduates of several other MCKK-modelled schools.

MCKK emphasized all-round education.

Since its beginning in 1905, MCKK’s vision was to guide students towards all-round excellence and living harmoniously with each other, realizing its motto of “Fiat Sapientia Virtus” or “Let Manliness Comes Through Wisdom”. Students have always been expected to excel in academic. At the same time, students have continuously been challenged to do well in sports and compulsory co-curriculum. In addition, MCKK students were encouraged to participate in “recreational or hobby clubs” such as photography, cinema, gardening, and many others. These clubs could break the monotony in the campus life, in which the students were kept busy from dawn till midnight.