Nuns say it again, convent land not for sale

The Lady Superior of the Society of Saint Maur, Sisters of the Infant Jesus (IJ) Malaysia Theresa Chua, the landowner of the schools, has reaffirmed that the convents are "not for sale."

Chua said there is no intention to sell the land and buildings of the convent schools for redevelopment.

"In the last decade, the continous drop in enrolment of students has been a matter of concern and has been monitored closely," Chua said in a statement.

"The escalating cost to maintain the over one and a half century school buildings of Convent Light Street (above) is another major worry," added Chua.

She was referring to the talk and speculation about the closure of the three IJ Sisters convent schools in Penang.

On June 21, the matter cropped up again when the Penang Education Department said it has approved the land being returned to the Sisters.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (above) had chipped in, saying the Penang government can invoke the Land Acquisition Act 1960 to take back the land on which the convent schools are located only if the landowner surrenders the plot to the Education Ministry.

Chua's predecessor, Sister Celine Wong had said in 2017, that there were no plans for the redevelopment of the land.

Chua said the purported closure continues to attract much interest, especially Convent Light Street.

The convent is the first convent school in Malaysia, and the first IJ sisters convent in Southeast Asia, she added.

She reminded that the convent was established in 1852 by the Infant Jesus Sisters as a private mission school.

"The IJ Sisters had asked for their school premises of Convent Light Street and Convent Pulau Tikus, which were taken over by the Ministry of Education in 1972 and used as government aided schools, to be returned to them.

"The request has since been approved by the Ministry of Education," Chua added.

Chua said the Sisters plan to embark on a transformation effort to continue and preserve the tradition of learning that is dynamic, progressive and relevant.

This will be done, she assured, through the creation of richer syllabus content, while maintaining the "character and ethos" if convent schools.

"The IJ Sisters are firm believers in education and will continue to advocate wholesome education in their mission schools.

"The school premises will be returned in totality to the IJ Sisters when the last of the students complete their final academic year in Convent Light Street secondary and Convent Pulau Tikus in 2023, and Convent Light Street primary in 2024," Chua said. - Mkini