Schulz at the school library which holds fond memories.
LORONG Utara B in Petaling Jaya is more than just a street – it is home to well-known institutions such as Tun Hussein Onn Eye Hospital, Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya, Cobra Rugby Club and Deutsche Schule Kuala Lumpur (DSKL).
DSKL, also known as the German School Kuala Lumpur which has been a landmark on this street for almost 30 years, is embarking on a new chapter when the new school term starts end of this month.
DSKL is merging with the French School of Kuala Lumpur (Lycée Français de Kuala Lumpur or LFKL) on Jalan Dutamas Raya in Kuala Lumpur to create a European campus.
Based on information from the LFKL website, the letter of intent for the schools’ merger was signed in the presence of the German and French ambassadors to Malaysia in April 2022.
The schools’ management teams and board of directors had planned the integration of their students to be on the same premises to obtain the “Eurocampus” status.
In her message, LFKL principal Patricia Reynaud said the significant merger in creating a European campus would greatly contribute to the multicultural dimension of the French school.
“Undoubtedly, this project will offer a highly enriching experience for the children,” she said.
DSKL’s departure from its current location marks a significant turning point for the neighbourhood, as the school was deeply interwoven into the fabric of the local community, shaping people’s lives and experiences including contributing an educational aspect to the landscape of the area.
Children playing at the basketball court at the German School Kuala Lumpur. — Photos: KAMARUL ARIFFIN and AIDA AHMAD/The Star
Education steeped in history
DSKL started in the 1970s, when the German-speaking community thought it was important to establish a German-language institution in addition to the existing British and American international schools.
This initiative was spurred by the German School Association Malaysia in 1978.
In 1979, DSKL celebrated its first day of school with three students – two girls and a boy – in Year One to Year Three in a house in Petaling Jaya.
Its kindergarten was founded at the same time.
A larger house in Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur, was rented to conduct classes for 13 students in Year Two to Year Five.
In 1982, the school moved again due to lack of space, to Section 14, Petaling Jaya.
From then on, the number of students kept increasing.
In 1995, the school celebra- ted a milestone with its 100th student.
The lack of space became an issue once more; although the building in Jalan 14/54 had a lot of rooms, it was too small given the growing number of students.
In 1996, DSKL moved into its new school building, belonging to the Universiti Malaya General Staff Union (KKAUM) on Lorong Utara B.
The words Wisma KKAUM can be seen on the exterior wall.
Students and teachers at German School Kuala Lumpur on Lorong Utara B, Petaling Jaya, in 2002. — Courtesy photo
Embracing new experiences
StarMetro caught up with DSKL project and marketing coordinator Leonie Schulz and other staff as the school prepared for its big move. They regaled this writer with anecdotes of how instrumental the Lorong Utara B location had been to the community.
DSKL, which schooled students from Year 1 to Year 12, went through various changes from the construction of the annex to the sports grounds, said Schulz.
“Before the annex was built, it was an empty space within the school yard. The annex housed classrooms,” she said.
The student tally is now 170.
Although the rooms in the building on Lorong Utara B were initially huge, there were too few of them.
Schulz said gypsum walls were erected to build more classrooms.
She said the idea for DSKL to merge with LFKL was mooted about two years after the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This wasn’t an easy time for the school, because many students and parents had left Malaysia and the school community shrank to 150,” she added.
Some parents, students and staff of German School Kuala Lumpur on the last day of the school session in July.
English teacher Mallika Terhost, who has been with the school for 17 years, said the idea of collaborating with the French community had been in the offing for many years.
“It was always an idea to look for our own building.
“We had talked about buying a piece of land or a building but it was expensive, and nothing worked out. Then it picked up again and was put into practice,” Terhost added.
The school also celebrated two major successes in the sports and arts fields – one was winning the South-East Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2002, and in the same year it hosted the first cultural festival of German schools in South-East Asia.
Holding on to memories
DSKL facility manager Papinder Singh, 52, who has been with the school for 26 years, oversees matters pertaining to maintenance as well as carrying out student headcount on school buses.
German School Kuala Lumpur’s first premises was at this house in Petaling Jaya. — Courtesy photo from DSKL
With orange traffic cones cordoning off the entrance every day at 7.30am, 1.20pm and 3.30pm, buses are parked in an orderly manner as they drop off as well as pick up students.
“It is in the German nature to do things in a structured way. We use the traffic cones to deter parents from parking there. After the buses leave, the parents can drive up to the entrance to drop off or pick up their children,” said Papinder.
“This has been the practice from day one. If it is raining or if there is a student with special needs, only then can parents park in front of the school,” he said.
Unlike other schools where the bell rings to signal the start or end of the school sessions, DSKL has hushed beeps.
Papinder said one of his fond memories working at the school was bringing DSKL students and fellow colleagues to the Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya nearby for free hot meals.
“We bring the students to the gurdwara for an exchange of culture.
“They have always wanted to know about Sikh culture and the purpose of giving out free food to the public,” said Papinder, adding that DSKL also formed community bonds with neighbours like the Cobra Rugby Club further down the street.
Parents having a potluck at German School Kuala Lumpur in Petaling Jaya as the school prepares to move to a new location.
Schulz concurred, saying that she would miss the camaraderie at the gurdwara.
“We never needed to worry about breakfast or lunch,” she recalled fondly.
Nevertheless, they are looking forward to more opportunities and improved shared facilities at LFKL.
“For DSKL staff, we will get to interact with the French community, which is great for us to understand the concept of the European Union and for students to build international friendships,” said Schulz.
“The European Campus project has its economical, cultural and social benefits.
“We can use more facilities there and grow in several aspects, representing the German and French community in a nice way.
“There were plenty of memories and growth that happened here, but we need to move on,” she added.
‘It was always an idea to look for our own building,’ says Terhost.
Terhost said she was looking forward to using facilities at LFKL, like the swimming pool.
“That was limited here because we had to use outside facilities during sports day,” she said.
At the moment, it is unknown who will take over the premises on Lorong Utara B, according to a KKAUM spokesperson.
“There is no decision yet; we might rent it out,” the spokesperson said, adding that KKAUM bought the property in the 1970s.
Emotional farewell
Administrative assistant Hassan Basri, 56, has been working for the school for the past 28 years and will miss the atmosphere at Lorong Utara B.
Schulz: The idea for the German school to merge with LFKL was mooted about two years after the pandemic.
“It will be a big challenge for us to get used to the new location, as we have been here so long,” he said.
Eruthia Mary Thasan, 56, who works as a supervisor for the cleaners for the past 17 years, is going to miss the close relationship she has had with students and parents.
“It is a bit sad; we became close to so many of the parents.
“Once we shift to the new location, we will not be able to see them as often.
“Lorong Utara B was a suitable location, near to everything and is convenient,” she added.
It is not easy for parent Natassia Diamond, 39, whose two daughters aged nine and six have been DSKL students since kindergarten, as she has to relocate closer to the new location in Kuala Lumpur.
Papinder will be continuing to look after maintenance and services at the new school premises.
She has lived at the condominium near the school all this time.
“It feels sad, because the school has a warm vibe and teachers have close connections with the children,” said Diamond.
“The teachers know all the children, and parents can come to see them playing and running around the school anytime; it is really a close-knit community.
“This is a nice location where I can drop my children at school, do my exercise at the Astaka sports field and have breakfast with my neighbours and friends from the gurdwara,” she said.
