Penang:Penang Free School (PFS), the oldest English-medium school in Southeast Asia, is celebrating its 210th anniversary this year while committing to enhance its digital capabilities to prepare students for the evolving educational and technological landscape.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the anniversary provides an opportunity to support the PFS Digital Transformation Fund, which aims to improve the school's digital infrastructure and capabilities. Ivan Ooi Jieun Vei, chairman of the PFS Organising Committee, emphasized that the milestone is not just a celebration of history but a call to the Penang Free School community to invest in its future.

The fund is focused on strengthening digital infrastructure, enhancing educators' capabilities, and providing students with exposure to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, coding, and new digital technologies. As of September 28, 13 out of the targeted 33 Hisense Smartboards had been acquired through the PFS Digital Transformation Initiative.

Ooi stated that the Digital Transformation Fund is intended to complement government funding to accelerate the school's development, emphasizing that the goal is to invest in capabilities, opportunities, and talent development for Penang's future economy.

The highlight of the celebrations is the 210th Anniversary Dinner at PFS, featuring performances by Malaysia's Queen of Rock, Ella, alongside PFS students.