Articles

Penang Free School: 200 years of heritage

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Sep 28, 2016 PFS is to be recognised as a heritage site, awaits official recognition.The heritage status can help protect the school's 8-hectars site and preserve the buildings which have important sentimental value to former students, academic staff and the education authorities. The status will allow the school to receive grants from the heritage authorities and restrict development that might affect the school's historical value in anyway.According to Datuk Abdul Rafique Karim, said back in March, the school received the nod from the National Heritage Board sometime last year. The school is still waiting for the confirmation from the state government.The Penang Free School has produced some of the most influential figures, politicians and professionals in the country and around the world who moved on to achieve greatness during their life-time inspiring many people to excel and contributing significantly to the national economy.Former students of the school, also known as Frees, share a very strong bond and are very attached to the school that have contributed much to their lives. Particularly among the Old Frees, the school is more than just a former study place, it is a home. These students are connected to each other and connected to that home in an exemplary way and share a passion for preserving and helping the school.The school will hold its bicentenary celebration on October 21st, 2016 with the attendance of some 3,000 of its former students from around the world. The Penang Free School is one of Malaysia’s historic institutions as it is the oldest school and the first English-medium school in the country, with history that dates back to 1816.