1929–1946

Pei Hwa Primary School was established in 1929 by local enthusiasts is located at Yu Yuan Huo Jiao Chang, San Jiao Bu. Later, the school moved to Kwang Tung Association. The student population increased so much that the school borrowed premises from Chinese Rubber Trade Association as the second school building in 1936. At the same time, Tai Chang Company contributed a piece of land and the school also purchased a piece of land for building purpose, the school space increased to 4 acres. In 1938, the school moved to its new building; the number of students was around 140.

Following the Japanese occupation of Malaysia in 1942, the school was forced to stop classes, all the school equipment was destroyed. In 1946, classes resumed.

1947–1962

With the development of the school and the demands of society, the school opened upper primary classes in 1947. In 1949, the school started enrolling junior middle one's students, secondary education was begun and school gradually increased in size. Lack of school buildings to expand the school construction projects in full swing. By 1958, the number of the students is over 1,000, due to lack of facilities, primary and secondary schools are forced to have double shifts, morning and afternoon shifts, minimising the hours children spend in school. The primary school is quite separate from secondary school in the same year. Primary school moved to their present location at second year, now namely Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina Pei Hwa (SJK(C) Pei Hwa). In 1960, the school offer higher secondary classes, becoming the highest institution in North Muar.

Under The Education Act 1961, the school was reform into Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Pei Hwa (SMJK Pei Hwa), also led the student movement during the restructuring. However, mother-tongue education SHOULD NOT be abandoned. Because of the school original calibration certificates are still saved, so the council of the school decided to continue the provision of mother-tongue education, the school re-run Chinese-language school, the Pei Hwa High School soon after reformed. Earlier, the school students mostly are students whose ages were older than the average.

1963–Present

The school faced their deepest crisis since its founding having to focus as much on economic challenges and the source of students, in addition, the school did not have its own campus, and it was just only sharing facilities with SMJK Pei Hwa. In 1971, Che Kuan Khor Moral Uplifting Society, Sungai Mati and the Chairman of Pei Hwa Alumni Association, Wu Nai Guang donated a piece of land to the school for school construction purposes. The school was moved to its current location in 1975, just across from SMJK Pei Hwa. At that time, the school had only 46 students.

With the development of the school, the number of students went up to 717 in 1987. With the rapid development of information technology, the school started their computer classes. The school became the first to establish furniture-carpentry courses in 1989. From 1996 to 1999, the carpentry class students have participated in The Malaysia Skills Competition (MSC) and won Prime Minister's Golden Hands Awards for four consecutive years. The students of the carpentry class represented Malaysia to take part in The 35th WorldSkills International Competition in Montreal, Canada in 1999. But the carpentry class suspended in 2001 for lack of finances. Science classes were reopened in 2001. In June 2004, the school brought back a 6-day school week.

On 28 July 2008, the school signed a sister school agreement with Tsun Jin High School, Kuala Lumpur. Same year, the school won the UEC (Junior) Language Category Most Improve Award in Tan Kah Kee Award 2008. On 3 December 2012, the school signed a sister school agreement with Chung Chou University of Science and Technology, Taiwan.

As China becomes stronger, the status of Chinese language is rising; the number of the school is increasing also.

Motto

礼　Propriety

This is being polite to others;

义　Righteousness

Going with correct principles;

廉　Incorruptibility

This is to have integrity and not to be greedily corrupted;

耻　Sense of shame

This is not to do dishonourable things, even behind other’s backs.

Song

School Events

• School Opening Day: This activity is an enrolment propaganda work of the school, mainly for grade five or six students of primary school. 19 August 2008, the number of participants goes up to one thousand.
• Entrance Examination: It is the school selects the outstanding talent's important way. There are many scholarships will be available to outstanding student.
• Orientation Camp: This activity is for new student, as well as the student to get more familiar with their school's important way
• Chinese New Year Celebration: As a Chinese school, the school celebrates CNY each year; it has a positive effect on inheriting and carrying forward the Chinese culture
• School Sport Meet: The first sports day began in 2007.
• Charity Bazaar: Activate which is the direct involvement and participation of every student to raise funds for school through the food sell or game booths. Such as, on 2 August 2010, Tiger-Sin Chew Chinese Education Charity Concert (in short the Tiger Sin Chew CECC) and charity bazaar were hosted at the school to raise funds for the indoor basketball court construction.
• PHHS Cultural Night / Anniversary Celebration: Activities carried out by the student present performances for their student on the importance of giving back to the community. Such as:

• On 29 August 1998, the school celebrated its 70 Anniversary.
• On 7 November 2004, three Pei Hwa school - SJK(C) Pei Hwa, SMJK Pei Hwa and Pei Hwa High School jointly celebrate the 75th anniversary celebration.
• By the middle of Aug 2005, the students from performing groups were on a tour in Kuantan.
• In Dec 2007, the students had performance at SJK(C) Chi Ming 1, Tangkak and SJK(C) Seg Hwa, Segamat.
• The theme of 80th Anniversary commemorative activities is ‘培华八十，风华再现’.
• On 1 & 2 November 2012, the school students from performing art society had performance in SJK(C) Khay Hian, Ledang and SJK(C) Chian Kuo, Ledang.

Beside the above-mentioned activities, the school also host Incentive program, Parents' Day, Teachers’ day, singing competition, trilingual speech competition and others competitions. The student associations will also hold various camps during the school holidays, focus on intellectual and spiritual to obtain fulfilment.

Administration

• Principal's Office
• Academic Dept.:

• Academic Office
• Library Dept.
• Information Dept.

• Student Affairs Office:

• Discipline Dept.
• Counseling Dept.
• General Affairs Dept.

• Co-curricular Activities Dept.:

• Co-Curricular Dept.
• Phy. Edu. Dept.

Student Association

• Type of Performing & Arts:

• Orchestra Band
• Chinese Orchestra Society
• Choir
• Dancing Society
• Arts Society

• Type of Service & Uniform:

• School Prefect
• Scout
• St. John Ambulance
• Library Club
• Xi'yu Society (as an environmental protection club)
• Audio Technical Group
• Athletics Team

• Type of Sport Varsity:

• Basketball Varsity
• Volleyball Varsity
• Table tennis Varsity
• Badminton Varsity

School Board

Alumni Association

Alumni association is an association of graduates or, more broadly, of former students (alumni).Currently, associated with PHHS's alumni association including:

• Persatuan Bekas Pelajar Sekolah Tinggi Pei Hwa Sg. Mati in Malay language (simplified Chinese: 培华独中校友会)
• Persatuan Murid-Murid Tua Sekolah Pei Hwa (Sg. Mati) Johor Selatan in Malay language (simplified Chinese: 培华(利丰港)柔南校友会)
• Persatuan Murid-Murid Tua Sekolah Pei Hwa Sg. Mati in Malay language (simplified Chinese: 利丰港培华校友会)

Members of these organisations are voluntarily by alumni and non-profit community organisations. The purpose and scope of work can be summarised in the following several points:

• To support efforts by the school to keep alumni informed on school developments; renew friendships developed at the school;
• To provide ways for alumni to network and meet each other in their communities and involve alumni in career development and job placement of students and graduates;
• To organise social events, help alumni maintain connections to others alumni and their educational institution;
• To assist the school’s recruitment and admissions program, further studies advisory activities, and school promotion;
• To provide a venue for the exchange of ideas between alumni and the school, and encourage participation in the education development foundation;
• To collect and collate information of school history, publish newsletters or magazines of the school;
• To provide scholarship and study loan for the students from low income families.