The Convent

Brief history on the Convent Primary School which is one of the main landmarks of Cameron Highlands since 1935

Historical Landmarks - I.J. Convent Primary School, Tanah Rata

The Convent Primary School started as a boarding school called the Pensionnat Notre Dame, which was officially opened on 1st May 1935. The land was allocated by the then Sultan of Pahang on the condition that the building be used for educational purposes. Despite the many difficulties, the architect succeeded in erecting a boarding school second to none in the country.

With the boarding school in Cameron Highlands, the number of students increased but the outbreak of war brought this to an abrupt halt. The convent was transformed into a Japanese hospital during this period. At the end of the war, the school was reopened and transferred to temporary buildings to facilitate the education process that was needed now more than ever. The school was expanded by adding more huts and classrooms as the main building was being used by the British military. The Youth Centre was one of the huts used as part of the school. The sisters of the Convent lived in a bungalow across the road.

When the British withdrew their troops in 1971, the Convent was handed over to the congregation where all efforts were taken to restore the building to schooling conditions by the sisters and pupils. A kindergarten and nursery were also opened to accommodate working teachers’ and parents’ children.

The Convent continues to be operated as a national primary school alongside a church to this day and is a recognizable key landmark in Cameron Highlands.