Convent Days 1959 - 1963.

I was sent to CHIJ (Batu Pahat) for my secondary education with a few of my friends. The others were sent back to TIGS. We were the first batch of Malay students in CHIJ(BP). The school then, were still run by Reverend Mother and a handful of nuns whom we called "sister". The HM was Mrs. Tan. As mentioned ealier, my friends and I felt very uncomfortable to be there for the first few days. Soon we got over our fear and we enjoyed our days there.

Apart from the normal curriculum, we had singing lesson and 'Sripture Class' now known as "Bible Knowledge". We enjoyed the singing lesson. We were taught songs like - Greenwood tree, Home sweet home, Oh! Suzanna by the 'sisters'. We were often told "Girls are seen not heard".

During the 'Scripture Class', the Malay girls were not to leave class. We were supposed to do our home-work or study. Saya suka curi-curi dengar. I came to know about the concept of 'Trinity' about Jesus about 'Virgin Mary' etc. etc. etc. Which saya tak pernah dengar di Sekolah Agama.

Masalah saya di Convent bukan masalah pembelajaran tetapi penerimaan keluarga dan orang kampung. Ibu selalu disindir cuba mengkristiankan anak. Pernah apabila ke rumah saudara saya diminta membaca kitab-kitab jawi dan mengaji Al-Quran. Saya masih dapat melepasi ujian-ujian mereka. InsyaALLAH, saya masih seorang Muslim sejati.

Begitulah pandangan sempit masyarakat "Melayu Lama" terhadap sekolah orang putih lebih-lebih lagi sekolah Convent.

Satu pengalaman berharga yang saya lalui semasa di Convent ialah peluang mengasah bakat di atas pentas. Pada masa itu Kerajaan sedang berusaha meningkatkan penguasaan Bahasa Melayu di kalangan pelajar-pelajar. Berbagai-bagai aktiviti telah di jalankan termasuklah:

i. Bulan Bahasa Kebangsaan.
ii. Minggu Bahasa Kebangsaan.
iii. Pidato.
iv. Pantun.
v. Lakonan.

Oleh kerana bilangan pelajar Melayu amat berkurangan di Convent, maka saya kerap terpilih mewakili sekolah buat masa itu. Saya dan kawan baik saya Puan Rajiah Md. Yusuf mendapat bimbingan En. Ismail Kayat dan En. Mokhtar Talib (Matlob). Dengan bimbingan mereka semua kami tak pernah balik tangan kosong.
Kehandalan mereka dalam Bahasa Melayu susah ditandingi hingga kini.

Syabas!

Dalam ruangan yang sempit ini aku ingin merakamkan jutaan terima kasih ku kepada Puan Ramlah. Beliau telah bersusah-payah, entah bagimana pun aku tak tahu, sehingga aku mendapat bantuan kewangan, untuk meneruskan pelajaran hingga ke tingkatan lima. Semoga ALLAH mencucuri rahmat ke atas beliau.