SK Sri Tanjung

Opened in 1878, SK Sri Tanjung has witnessed generations of Penang’s children grow. Originally known as the Chowrasta Malay School, SK Sri Tanjung first opened its doors at the corner of Transfer Road and Phee Choon Road. Imagine the bustling marketplace of Chowrasta in the late 19th century, with the schoolhouse a hub of activity amidst the traders and shoppers. The school’s early curriculum focused on fundamental skills: reading, writing, arithmetic, and local affairs blended with basic science. Under headmaster Cikgu Mustafa Arshad in the 1920s, the school gained national recognition. It nurtured notable figures like Doctor Aziz Omar, a renowned doctor in Kelantan, and Haji Yusoff Rawa, a prominent religious scholar. SK Sri Tanjung moved to its current location on Hutton Lane in 1936. The new three-story building was considered modern, boasting ten classrooms, a meeting room, the headmaster’s office, and a special room for home economics lessons. A mid-sized football field provided space for recreation. The school even housed offices for the Teachers’ Company and the Malay Teachers’ Association. After World War II, SK Sri Tanjung served as a central school for other Malay schools in Penang. In 1966, the school expanded to include four classrooms for hearing-impaired children. The school’s name officially changed to Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Tanjong in 1970, inaugurated by the then Director General of Education, Tan Sri Haji Hamdan Bin Sheikh Tahir. By 1987, the school for the hearing-impaired became a separate entity. Renovations followed, adding specialized rooms for science, vocational skills, a library, and a hall. SK Sri Tanjung stands today as a testament to its rich history, continuing to educate Penang’s youth within these same walls.