Curtains coming down for St Theresa Padungan?

Article taken from Borneo Post dated 10/1/2011

SRB St. Theresa Padungan has stopped running Primary One classes. Some quarters have speculated that its Primary Two to Primary Six classes would be closed in phases, beginning next year until 2016.

A parent brought this to the attention of The Borneo Post because her daughter was supposed to study in Primary One there this year. She had enrolled her kid two years ago but last November she and many others were advised to send their children to the nearby SRK Jalan Lumba Kuda instead. "There was a notice at the canteen stating this. It also notified parents of the transfer. But the notice did not state the reason. I won't be surprised if many parents were caught pants down. Fortunately, I came to know about this is November," she said. The mother said she had managed to transfer her daughter to SRB St Theresa Jalan Tun Haji Openg, instead of SRK Jalan Lumba Kuda. She said she was saddened by the whole episode because SRB St Theresa Padungan is a good school, and one of the most popular ones in the city. "The school has a rich history. I will be sad if it is phased out," she lamented.

She said she believed what is happening to SRB St Theresa is also happening to SK St. Faith in Kenyalan Park. The whole thing seemed puzzling now because during the recent school holidays SRB St Theresa Padungan was seen undergoing renovation and everything had looked fine. She quick check with an Education officer yesterday confirmed that St Theresa Padungan was "phasing out" but she was unsure of the real reasons behind it.

SRB St Theresa Padungan, which is situated next to St Peter's Church Padungan, opened its doors in 1940 with 80 pupils and three teachers. Its first headmistress, who served from 1939 ro 1941, was Rev Mother Sebastian. The school was closed from 1942 to 1945 by the Japanese during the Second World War. It reopened in 1946 with 160 pupils and three nuns. The headmaster was Rev Padre Harry Van Erp. Today, the school can cater to more than 500 pupils at any one time.

St Theresa Padungan is a popular school because its pupils can easily continue their secondary education in either SMB St Joseph or SMB St Theresa. Its students have also done well in public examinations annually.

Never expected my Primary School to close down in a couple of years time. So much memories we shared through the years. I still return to school once in a while to meet my teachers and see the changes in school but looks like after another 5 years, there will be no more teachers around.