Sekolah Menengah Katholik

About Catholic High School Sibu

Catholic High School Sibu, written in Chinese as 公教中学, is a Chinese Independent High School on Jalan Lanang in Sibu, Sarawak. The Marist Brothers founded it in 1961 as part of the Catholic mission’s work in central Sarawak, which also produced Sacred Heart and St. Elizabeth in the same town. Among Malaysia’s Chinese independent schools, Catholic High School Sibu holds an unusual position: it is the only Catholic Chinese mission school in the country that teaches the Chinese Independent High School curriculum leading to the Unified Examination Certificate.

Sibu has five Chinese independent schools. Catholic High School Sibu and Wong Nai Siong High School, founded in 1967, are the two most established names in the town. The school combines the Marist educational tradition with Mandarin-medium teaching, and it is privately run rather than part of the national MOE system.

Curriculum at Catholic High School Sibu

Catholic High School Sibu follows the standard Chinese independent school structure of six years: Junior Middle 1 to 3, then Senior Middle 1 to 3. The exit qualification is the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), set and governed by the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong / UCSCAM). Teaching is in Mandarin, with Bahasa Melayu compulsory and English taught throughout.

Many Chinese independent schools run a parallel national track so students can also sit national examinations, and families weighing the two routes can compare the UEC against the SPM pathway. The UEC is accepted by universities across Taiwan, Singapore, and much of the world, while the SPM remains the standard entry point to Malaysian public universities. For students in Sarawak, the UEC carries added weight because of how the state treats the certificate, covered below.

Fees at Catholic High School Sibu

Catholic High School Sibu does not publish a fixed fee schedule online. As a guide, Chinese independent high schools in Malaysia typically charge in the region of RM 3,000 to RM 12,000 per year, depending on the level, the town, and whether boarding or other services are taken. Independent schools rely on fees together with alumni and community contributions rather than full government funding, so the figure varies year to year.

For the current tuition, registration, and any boarding or activity charges, contact the school directly at 084-322327. The school can confirm the exact amount for the Junior Middle or Senior Middle level you are applying to.

Admissions at Catholic High School Sibu

Entry to Catholic High School Sibu is most common at Junior Middle 1, after a student completes Chinese primary school. The school accepts applications for higher levels where places allow, usually with a placement assessment. Because teaching is in Mandarin, a working command of the language is expected for incoming students.

Prospective families should ask the school about the intake calendar, the documents required, and any entrance assessment. Admissions enquiries go through the school office at 084-322327.

Catholic High School Sibu in Sarawak

Catholic High School Sibu sits in Sibu, a river town on the Rajang in central Sarawak and a long-standing centre of the state’s Chinese community. The school’s UEC track matters here because Sarawak was the first state in Malaysia to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate, doing so in 2014 under then chief minister Adenan Satem. That recognition lets UEC graduates apply to the state-owned University of Technology Sarawak and qualify for Sarawak’s free tertiary education scheme, provided they meet the entry requirements.

For other private and independent options across the state, see the Sarawak directory. Contact Catholic High School Sibu at 084-322327.