A Study Of Chinese Language And Culture Education For Girls In British Malaya(1900-1941)

Overseas Chinese have always attached great importance to the education of their children.In order to inherit Chinese culture in the overseas Chinese society,overseas Chinese in Malaya educate their children in various forms.Overseas Chinese in Malaya educate overseas Chinese girls by setting up special schools for overseas Chinese girls.The form of education with Chinese and Chinese as the main medium of instruction is called Chinese girls’ education.Taking Chinese girls’ education in Malaya as the research object,this paper examines the development process of Chinese girls’ education in Malaya during the British colonial rule under the influence of China,British colonial authorities and Malaya,and then extends the significance of Chinese girls’ education to individuals,society and the country.With the end of the Qing Dynasty,the maritime prohibition policy was gradually abolished,and the overseas behavior of Chinese women became more common.A large number of Chinese women went to live in Malaya,which brought opportunities for the emergence and development of Chinese women’s education in Malaya.Under the background of British colonial rule,English education,as the mainstream education mode,stimulated the emergence of Chinese girls’ education in Malaya to some extent.At the same time,there were also activities to establish girls’ education in China.In the early 20 th century,under the strong support of the overseas Chinese people from all walks of life,Chinese-run girls’ schools were established.However,with the persistent efforts of the overseas Chinese education community,Chinese-run girls’ education survived the most difficult period.In the 1920 s,the number of girls’ schools continued to rise.Although the number of students was still small,girls’ schools blossomed throughout Malaya and Chinese girls’ education ushered in its initial development.The 1930 s was the most glorious period of Chinese girls’ education.The number and educational level of girls’ schools were continuously increased.Teachers’ education and vocational education also achieved great development,and Chinese girls’ education entered a stage of prosperity and development.Although Chinese women’s education in Malaya has made great progress in just 30 years,its development road is extremely bumpy.Influenced by the backward gender concept of overseas Chinese society,it was difficult for overseas Chinese society to receive women’s education.This concept also penetrated into the families of overseas Chinese,resulting in numerous difficulties in the development of Chinese women’s education.The problems of funds,teachers and management of Chinese women’s education in Malaya also severely restricted the development of Chinese women’s education.Meanwhile,the British colonial government carried out policies to destroy Chinese education,which aggravated the setbacks in the development process of Chinese women’s education.The education of Chinese women in Malaya takes the inheritance of Chinese culture as its mission and strengthens the identity of Chinese culture and Chinese nation which has been gradually dissipated among Peranakan women.The education of Chinese women in Malaya also has a progressive influence on the overseas Chinese society.It has righted the unhealthy atmosphere in the overseas Chinese society in Malaya and made the overseas Chinese society in Malaya develop in a benign and progressive direction.At the same time,Chinese women’s education also promoted the development of local overseas Chinese women’s liberation movement in Malaya,for the physical and mental liberation of overseas Chinese women.