槟城佛教义学


一九九三年,钟灵佛学研究会主办校际佛学演讲比赛。茶叙时,妙香林广余广义二上人以弘法不离教育,倡义兴办佛教夜校,获在座陈文炳、许平等、莊汉良、吴鹤琴、杨庚生等居士之支持。旋即积极筹划,经数度座谈,乃拟定计划书,商借中路六十五号为校舍,推选本外坡佛教界热心公益人士为董事。并广邀文教界名流组织询委员会。十一月十一日开始招生。十二月一日槟华女子中学举行入学放试,投考大学青年多至一千余名,录取者六百多人。一九六四年一月二十日正式开学。槟城佛教义学,于焉成立。
该校本乎[觉己觉人,立人立己]之宏旨,本年度仍开设十二班,收容失学或辍学之清贫子弟六百名,传授生活知能,弘扬佛陀慈善。来学者不分领域,除不收学费以外,并免费供应课本与讲义。历年来申请入学者至为踊跃,因教室不敷用,多有枸隅之叹!

全校编为低级、中级、高级及特别班四组;每组修学二年。每周上课五晚。研究科目计有中、英、巫三种语言,及佛学、簿记、珠算、打字、商算、公民及应用文等。义教教员二十五位,其中具有大学毕业资格者佔三分之一。
课外活动方面;目下有佛学研究会、美术研究会、合唱团、健美团、武术团筹组织,皆由校方廷聘专才负责督导。学子得于团体生活中,培养互助友爱之德操,并籍以提高爱校精神。
该校附建于马来西亚佛教会大厦二楼作为校舍,工程可望于年中完竣,即时即可启用。且义学董事,将邀请咨询委员会,重组策划,一本既定之宗旨,一一通便改进。盖前定之学制及教育措施,今后既有固定之校址,并善于利用,以手社会人士之期望。

A Brief Introduction of Penang Buddhist Free School
At the end of 1963, under the sponsorship of the Chung Ling High School Buddhist Association, there was an Inter-school Buddhism Auditory Contest. During this occasion, the venerable Kong Ghee And Kong Euee suggested that a Buddhist Night School to supplement technical and moral training to pupils who are unable to attend school.

It was very fortunate to have the support of Ms.Tan Boon Pen, Koh Pen Teng, Choong Gun Leong, Goh Hock Kim and Yeoh Keng Seng. After several consultations, a scheme was set up, and the school was temporarily established at No.15,Macalister Road, Penang. At the same time a Committee consisting of the Buddhist devotees, well-wishers and Buddhist intellectuals was formed. On 11th November 1963, it commenced registration of pupils,and on 1st December 1963,an entrance examination was held at Penang Chinese Girls' High School, as a results,more than six hundred pupils were accepted out of a total of over a thousand registered pupils.Thus the Penang Buddhist Free School was established on 20th January 1964.

The School is doing its best to enroll as many pupils as possible, at present, there are twelve classes with over six hundred needy pupils, who are not only having a free textbooks and notes etc. Due to the shortage of classrooms, many of the applications have to be accepted at a later date.


The courses are divided into the Primary, Juniors and Seniors classes as well as Special Course. Each stage has to be completed in two years. It is five day week school, and there are three periods daily. The subjects taught in this school are Chinese, English, Malay, Buddhism, Accountancy, Abacus, Typing, Commercial Arithmatics, Civics and Letter-writing. There are twenty-five voluntary teachers,and more than one-third of them are graduates.


The school provides the technical knowledge and helps to mould a strong and integrated character. There are Buddhist Society, Arts Society, Chinese Chess Club, Chorus, Body-building and Chinese Art of Defense Club etc.


As soon as the M.B.A. new building in Burmah Road, Penang is completed, the pupils will move in.