In the early 19th century, Chinese migrated with great hardship to the Malay Peninsula, where they set up many small, tutor-style schools that taught the Chinese classics, such as the Three Character Classic, Hundred Family Surnames and Four Books in various dialects. The tinkle of little scholars 'voices resounded in clan association halls and ancestral shrines for almost a century.
19 世紀初，華人胼手胝足移民到馬來半島開礦時期，就紛紛在落腳之地設立私塾，用方言教授《三字經》、《百家姓》、《四書》等典籍，學子的琅琅讀書聲在會館、宗祠傳誦近一個世紀。