On 17 March 1919, Hokkien leaders from the Penang Philomatic Union, viz Messrs. Tan Sin Chen, Lim Lu Tek, Khor Sen Lee and Cheah Seng Tin convened a meeting of Penang Hokkien residents at the Peng Chang Association. The consensus was for the establishment of an exclusive girls' school to educate Hokkien girls. The proposed opening of Fukien Girls' School on 15 Jan 1920 had to be put off on account of the lukewarm response from the local Chinese community. 8 March 1920 was the school's first day of operation at its premise in 29, Dato Kramat Road. On the 11th of March 1951, there was a meeting at Macalister Road and a decision was made to change the name of the school to Penang Chinese Girls'Primary School. In 1962, the school received full sibsidy from the government. School enrolment was not up to expectation on account of the non-strategic location of school. Consequently, the school operated at a loss of several years. In 1923, the population had grown to a hundred odd students. The school moved to 145, Acheh Street, when the owner of the premise, Mr. Chen Jiageng, a leading local educationist, consented to an ownership transfer for a consideration of thirty thousand dollars. In 1931, the first branch of Penang Chinese Girls' Primary School was opened in Lam Wah Ee Road. At that time, the number of students increased to more than ten classes. There was another shift of premise in 1935 to 65 Macalister Road because the old premise could not acccomodate the students. In view of the exponential increase in student enrolment, the Booard of Governors established a second branch at 37, Kelawai Road in 1937. This branch moved to 204, Burma Road two years later. However,the Second World War broke out and the schools ceased operations during the Japanese Occupation. Refurbishing work was carried out in September, 1945 but the reopening of the schools was postponed until early November because of extensive damage. After the war, the number of students increased and a plot of land along Anson Road was bought prior to this but the area was not large enough to accomodate the large number of students.The authorities later secided to purchase a 10-acre piece of land along Gottlieb Road at a price of one hundred and thirty thousand dollars. In 1954, a three-storey block was constructed with 24 classrooms. The first phase also included the construction of another double- storey building which housed the girls' hostel and canteen. In January 1956, students moved into the new premise at Gottlieb Road. The primary school students at Acheh Street were assimilated with the students at Macalister Road. Since then, the primary and secondary school students received their education under seperate roofs. In 1958, the school board successfully obtained a piece of land approximately 80 thousand square feet on the right hand side of the secondary school. Construction started in August 1961 and it was completed in july 1962. The expenditure was about 550 thousand ringgit. It consisted of 21 classes, 3 offices, a library, a canteen and a hall. However in 1970, the classrooms were insufficient and the Board of Governors unanimously agreed that the primary school should be expanded immediately. The construction of a new storey was able to accommodate 6 classes, a gymnasium, an exhibition hall, an air-conditioned meeting room and an air-conditioned audio visual room. The expenditure exceeded 200 thousand ringgit. The expansion was completed on 29 March 1972. To overcome the traffic congestion, the Board of Governors allocated a total of 10 thousand ringgit to build a tar road for school buses on the right hand of the school in 1977. Meanwhile, a basketball court which cost 10 thousand ringgit was also completed at the end of the year. By the end of 1998, the Board of Governors also biult a super corridor connecting the primary and secondary schools. It was a passage way for students from both schools and would not only shelter the students from rain or shine but also ensure their safety.
