Wesley Methodist School 25th Anniversary

Methodist College Kuala Lumpur and Wesley Methodist School share a common beginning in 1983. On 6 September they celebrated 25 years of growth, not only in numbers but also in reputation and demand.
 
More than 500 people gathered at the Ballroom, Legend Hotel to mark this occasion. Rev Dr Hwa Yung, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Malaysia, was the Guest of Honour. It was an opportunity for alumni, former staff and associates of the College for a reunion. It was a time to celebrate achievements and also to raise funds for the building project for MCKL.

Ms Juwita Suwito, an alumna of MCKL and now a well-known recording artiste, performed at the dinner. Presentations showed the creative and musical talents of the students from both Wesley School and Methodist College.

The story started in 1983 with the establishment of the Methodist College KL in Brickfields as a private secondary school. Datuk F.R. Bhupalan was the founding principal and served from 1983 to 1993. She was instrumental in getting the approvals for the College to offer the internationally recognized A-Level examinations in 1983.
 
The College offered Forms 1–5, STPM and A-Level. It began with 75 students. In 1991 there were 552 enrolled. It was decided to relocate Forms 1 & 2 to a campus in Sentul. By 1999, the entire secondary school (Forms 1–5) were in Sentul. The Brickfields campus continued with its GCE A-Level programme, having discontinued the STPM some years before.

Because of the Education Act 1996, post-secondary education was to be separately administered from secondary education, Methodist College became two entities. In 2001 the secondary school was renamed Wesley Methodist School. This relocation, separation and renaming is often the source of some confusion today when MCKL is thought to be in Sentul and confused with Wesley Methodist School.

Today, Wesley Methodist School has 105 staff and a student population of 946. There is a great demand for places in Form 1, with applicants chosen via an entrance examination. Its reputation as a school of excellence is a notable achievement in its 25 year history, through the successive headship of Datuk F.R. Bhupalan, Mr A.R. Peter and presently Mrs Vimala Mathews. From 2009, Wesley Methodist School will start branches in Klang and Ipoh.

Meanwhile, Methodist College added the Australian Matriculation Programme (AUSMAT) in 2001. In 2003 when Datuk Dr Chiam Heng Keng became CEO of Methodist College she introduced two new courses – Certificate in English and Diploma in Early Childhood Education. In March 2006, Ms Moey Yoke Lai, who had retired as Principal of Methodist Boys’ School KL, took over as CEO.

The College has 57 staff and 310 students. It is embarking on a development programme, of which the building project is one aspect. This entails an expansion and renovation work that will give it a fresh new image befitting a modern tertiary institution. It plans to build a 4-storey extension block, an Auditorium and an Atrium Courtyard. Initial groundwork has begun and it is expected to finish by end 2009. It will have a capacity of up to 900 students.

This project is estimated to cost RM12 million, and the Methodist Church has given RM7 million towards it.

Besides the physical development, new programmes are being planned for the near future – the Certified Accounting Technician, training in Special Education, Business Studies, teacher training programmes and twinning and collaboration with established universities. This is part of a ten year goal to bring MCKL to the standard of a university college.

Wesley Methodist School and Methodist College KL are part of the efforts of the Methodist Church to provide holistic education and formation through all its educational institutions. Their achievements these 25 years are a cause for celebration and thanksgiving to God, and an impetus to reach for greater heights in education excellence.

Christopher Cheah