Cagayan de Oro City witnessed the opening of the first so-called Chinese schools for beginners during the early 30’s. There had been no records on file, and because pre World-War-II schools with a curriculum not approved by the then Department of Education did not have any permits, no definite date can be authoritatively set as to which of the two beginner schools for Chinese in Cagayan de Oro was established first. The fact stands, however, that the earliest schools existed simultaneously. Chung Hua which was established by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, conducted classes in the old Chinese Club on the present site of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce building on corner Tiano Brothers and Toribio Chavez Streets (formerly Mindanao and Filipino Streets). The other called Hua Chao was established by the late Mr. Ket Kai Lim and his associates in Gomez Street.
Upon the advice of the national leadership of the Federation of Chinese Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, the two schools for beginners were merged in 1937. The new school was named Kong Hua Chinese School, which offered only Chinese elementary courses.
After World War II, the school resumed operation in Gomez Street because the Old Chinese Club was destroyed. The wooden school building along Tiano Brothers Street was completed in 1947 where classes were conducted during the school year 1948-1949. Within this school year, no English classes were conducted in the school and students had to enroll in government recognized school for their English elementary education.
Realizing the need for an English elementary department, a permit was secured from the Bureau of Private Schools sometime in 1950. Recognition for the complete elementary course was issued in 1955. In this same year, the school opened the high school department for both English and Chinese with a permit from the Bureau of Private Schools. Recognition for the first two years of high school was issued in 1956. It must be noted that the name of the school was modified into Kong Hua Chinese High School with the opening of the High School department. Complete recognition for High School was issued in 1960. Up to 1973, Kong Hua offered complete Chinese and English courses, although as a rule, graduates of the English High School had to stay for two more years to complete the senior years of the Chinese High School course. During that year, all Chinese schools had to be nationalized per P.D. 176, which resulted in the adoption of a common teaching of ONLY CHINESE LANGUAGE ARTS in the Chinese Department.
The school year 1987 – 1988 marked a major turning point for Kong Hua School. Upon the invitation by the Board of Trustees, five Hijas de Jesus Sisters (F.I.) namely Sr. Teresa Yuen, FI, Sr. Normita Anier, FI, Sr. Pacita Legaspi, FI, Sr. Calixta Parreno, FI and Sr. Teodora Antonio, FI came to Kong Hua School to become the new administrators. These missionaries were headed by Sr. Teresa Yuen, FI. The change evoked mixed reactions from the many sectors of the Kong Hua community. However, after one year of administering Kong Hua, the sisters managed to gain favorable attitude from the majority by making impressive changes and improvements to the school.
Pursuant to the same P.D. 176 the name of the school was permanently fixed as KONG HUA SCHOOL. The main concrete building was completed at the end of the school year 1977 – 1978, and occupied at the beginning of the school year 1978 – 1979. Enthusiasm for the support of the school rose and once more the Kong Hua School Alumni Association, through the officers contributed for the initial school facilities. The Kong Hua School Parents – Teachers Association (KHS – PTA) was also organized and had been very instrumental in the dispensation of school services.
When the school celebrated its 70th year of foundation, the school has already built new structures, a modern preschool building, a big gymnasium, a pastoral formation center at Taytay, El Salvador, Misamis Oriental, a state-of-the-art auditorium, well-furnished libraries for grade school and high school, and a functional and modern speech laboratory.
After 23 years of fruitful service as administrators, the Hijas de Jesus Sisters (F.I) decided to pass on the management of the school due to other priorities in their congregation. The official visitation of FI Superior General in 2009 marked the official farewell of the sisters to the school.
Succeeding years were very positive when the priests of Lorenzo Ruiz Mission Society advanced the achievements of the Hijas de Jesus Sisters. They were Fr. Emmanuel S. Regalado, LRMS who served as Director and Fr. Peterson Tieng, LRMS as Head of the Center for Christian Formation and Chinese Department and Finance Officer. The charism of the Society which was rooted from its very own Chinoy founder, the late Archbishop of Manila, Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, DD, ensures effective and educative journey of the Filipino-Chinese students in the region. During the ministry of these two LRMS priests, together with the members of the academic community, they dreamed of and applied for Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) accreditation. So, in 2010 they started the self-survey. On December 15, 2017, PAASCU granted Kong Hua School the Level I Accredited Status for three years.
The priests brought forth integrated Chinese curricula from Preschool onwards, enhanced Science, Speech and Computer Programs and laboratories. Technological advancement became very evident as teachers, pupils and students were provided with facilities to acquire and develop the 21st century skills.
Aside from learning the 21st century skills, differentiated instruction and multiple intelligences were instituted. Special classes on arts, ballet, dance, sports, and music were offered from Toddler onwards, with development of each child’s talent and self-esteem alongside strong academic programs in place.
To prepare for the implementation of the K-12 senior high program, a state-of-the-art science centrum building was constructed in 2015. It houses the different science and culinary arts laboratories that cater the school’s academic and technical-vocational (entrepreneurial) curricular offerings. The school year 2016-2017 was a significant year of Kong Hua School for it opened its Senior High School Department. This is in consonance with Republic Act 10533 of the Republic of the Philippines which enhances the basic education program. Strands offered are ABM, HUMMS and STEM.
For more than eight decades of continuous blessings, Kong Hua School envisions the future with gratitude and commitment to live its vision-mission, passionate to give her contribution to society in spreading the light of Christ as an agent of social transformation.