In the past, Taiwan’s general public was taught that girls should not be learned nor be seen in public, for ignorance is virtue, thus, very few Chinese girls received education.

Dr. MacKay actively pushed for young women’s education after the completion of Oxford College. In 1881, during a visit back to Canada, MacKay’s proposal of founding a girl’s school in Taiwan received support and a US3,000 dollar donation from the General Assembly of the Canada Presbyterian Church. After years of effort, the Girl’s School completed its construction on January 19th, 1884. The opening ceremony was held by the British Consul on March 3rd.

The Girl’s School was the first girl’s school in North Taiwan. In the beginning, only 45 students attended class, mostly Kavalan Pe-Po-hoan from I-lan (plain-aborigines of the Kavalan tribe living in today’s Yilang County). At the time, tuition was free of charge; the school also provided food, clothing, and housing. At its peak, 80 students attended class.

Shaded behind trees and vegetations, the beautiful red-bricked Girl’s School adopted a monastery-like boarding school system suitable for young girl’s education. The school was later once Sun-Tek Preschool.

Dr. MacKay personally designed and oversaw the construction of the Girl’s School; he hired workers and drilled a water well supplying water to the school, neighboring farm residents, missionaries, and foreigners. Now located behind the Tamkang Senior High School girl’s dormitory, the well still springs water. Along with Oxford College, the well is listed as one of Tamsui’s historical sites.


In 1907, an extension of the Girl’s School, the Women’s School opened its doors to the public. The Women’s School provided women’s education and trained women missionaries. Students were allowed to bring their children and live at the dormitory. The Women’s School is known as Taiwan’s earliest maternal classrooms.