The day when Ave. Maria Convent Girls Ipoh clashed with the police

The 20 November 1957 newspaper article reads: Chinese girls in a Roman Catholic convent in Ipoh attacked policewomen with umbrellas, sticks and bottles yesterday, in a demonstration in sympathy with other Chinese students. Similar incidents also flared not only in Ipoh but in other states as well (e.g. Seremban where 200 boys of Chan Wa High School demonstrated). In Penang and Kedah, peaceful demonstrations from about 1,300 students were also reported. The protest started from what i read as a result of the Federation Government Education Policy, that plan to do away with vernacular schools and convert this Chinese schools to main stream government schools. There were many other political considerations (both internal and external) that drove this, but that is more for political historians to discuss. 

In Ave Maria Chinese Convent in Ipoh (that had roughly 1,000 students at that time), it was reported that about 100 girls in school uniforms age from 13 to 17 resisted policewomen who were wielding canes to dispel the peaceful protest that started at 9 am when the group of girls demonstrated by refusing to go to class and started egging other schoolmates to do so as well. The police were called and 9 women constables under the charge of Inspector Miss Ng Leng Sim went in with canes while a police squad stood outside. Chaos happened and physical violence erupted soon after and the aftermath of that was a report that 2 convent girls were arrested for obstructing the police and later release on bail. 3 policewomen were injured in the 10 minute clash with one seen nursing a puffed eye. The O.C.P.D. Ipoh, Mr. P.B.G. Waller who went to the policewomen rescue, had scratches on his face and neck. The school was closed after that indefinitely until further notice. 

Special Branch chief leading a school girl from Ave. Maria Covent, Ipoh away 

Ave Maria Convent students struggling against the police officers 

Inspector Ng Leng Sim and another police officer trying to contain a school girl

OCPD Mr. Waller trying to contain a Convent girl

Headlines of student protest 

Aftermath

The Rev. Mother Superior was quoted in the article to have said that those involved in the incident were to be expelled. In fact on 29 November 1957, 8 students identified as the main ring leaders were expelled. 10 more students were pending to be expelled subject to investigation. Letters were sent to the parents of about 100 other girls who were involved in the incident. The letter to the parents and their daughters was for them to give assurance to the school that the girls would not get involved in any more disturbances. This assurance must be given if the girls are to continue as students of the school. The school subsequently reopened to allow for examinations to be taken after that.

Meanwhile 5 other schools remained closed as a result of student disturbances. They were: The Yuk Choy High School, The Poi Nam Middle School, The Perak Chinese Public Girls High, The Perak Chinese Public High and Middle Schools, all in Ipoh and the Yuk Kwan Middle School in Middle School in Batu Gajah. One boy from Sam Tet, Ipoh was reportedly expelled when he was caught inciting his classmates to jeer and shout (20 November 1957). 

From what i gathered the schools were subsequently reopened in early December. 

The demonstration however continued to flare in other states when reports on 6 December 1957 of between 250 to 300 students of the Chong Hwa middle school in Kluang. 

On 6 May 1958,  2 of the girls face charges of assault. They were Cheong Mei Ho (15 years of age). and Lam Sow Kam (17 years old). What happened after that i do not know. 

Ave Maria Convent Girls School, Ipoh is very much in existence today and known as SMJK Ave Maria Convent, Ipoh (怡保圣母玛利亚中学) while Chinese vernacular schools continue to thrive in Malaysia.