poobalan.com

Extracts from Malaysiakini:

Funds set aside for Tamil schools by the Penang and Selangor governments have convinced the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) that the strong support it lent to Pakatan Rakyat during the last general election was not in vain.

MCPX

“It proves that Hindraf’s campaign urging people to vote for a change was a correct decision. At least Pakatan governments have demonstrated that they care for Tamil schools, unlike the previous state Barisan Nasional administrations,” Hindraf national co-ordinator RS Thanenthiran told Malaysiakini yesterday.

“Pakatan has fulfilled its electoral pledge to provide financial assistance, irrespective of race and religion.”

The movement’s vociferous campaign for change was the main reason Indian voters who were pro-BN had switched en bloc to the Pakatan coalition in the March general election.

Under its 2009 budget, Penang’s Pakatan government set aside RM1.5 million as development funds to be disbursed to 28 Tamil schools in the state.

In the budget tabled at the state legislative assembly earlier this month by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, the state government also set aside RM4.5 million for 124 Chinese and missionary schools, RM1.5 million for 15 religious schools, and RM1 million for five private secondary schools.

The Selangor government, headed by Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, alocated RM4 million for Tamil schools in the state, besides setting aside RM6 million for Chinese schools.

“Our campaign to switch Indian support from BN to Pakatan was not a waste after all,” said Thanenthiran, adding that the previous administrations had neglected Tamil schools in both states to the extent that they were left to “rot and meet a natural demise.”

“It’s another example of the Umno-led government’s marginalisation of Indians,” he said, referring to Hindraf’s 18-point memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last year.

The memorandum included a demand to the government to set aside yearly development funds for Tamil schools.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Ramasamy said the state allocation was being dispersed accordingly by a state-level Tamil school co-ordination committee overseen by him.

Previously, the state government had difficulties communicating with the Tamil schools due to federal political intervention, but Ramasamy said the relationship had vastly improved since the committee was formed.

“The committee would disburse the funds fairly and priority would be given to needy schools,” he said, adding that land has also been earmarked for the construction of new buildings for Tamil schools, SRJK Azad, SRJK Batu Kawan and SJK Ladang Valdor.

We have to see if this will a continuous support or a one-off funding. we have to look at land availability, building construction, infrastructure etc. as well.

Popularity: 1% [?]

I find that Mukhriz’s statement on abolishing vernacular schools and establishing a single stream is more of a tit-for-tat move, rather than genuine concern for national unity. He threatens those who are speaking of equal rights or anti-supremacy. He should know that vernacular schools are provided for in constitution, but as Koh Tsu Koon says, “Ketuanan Melayu” is not contained in the constitution.

And I wonder if establishing single stream includes abolishing Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR), includes equal opportunity education up to university level (UITM and MARA colleges included), and providing scholarships based on merit. And how about private schools which a create a bigger division between the rich/affordable and the poor?

He says 99% of the countries in the world uses single stream education, but how many of those have a diverse racial population as in our country? The biggest majority race (malay) is not more than 60% (closer to 50% only actually) - there’s a strong minority in the Chinese, the East Malaysians, and to a lesser extent, the Indians. Now, which other country is similar to our makeup?

I feel that beside contravening the Sedition Act, Muhkriz is also playing to the gallery.

If he is really concerned, initiate an in-depth study - analyse if the vernacular schools (including sekolah agama and private schools) are contribution to disunity, or they are actually not a contributing factor at all. I believe the disunity is sown in the national schools, in public universities, in media, and by the politicians.

I still believe that his proposal does have its merits, but not in the tone he proposed. If a single stream that is:

- not islamized

- not biased towards one race

- have a better racial balance in the teaching staff

- provides for learning of mother tongue with competent teachers regardless number of students attending

- not discriminative in university intake and scholarship offers

- has single examination stream in STPM (no more matriculation/UEC)

- allows each race to celebrate its festivals and cultures (with financial support) without hindrance

- consider sensitivities in terms of food, clothing, etc of students

- provide religious and/or cultural classes to the respective students

then we can consider having such a stream.

I quote from Charles Santiago:

Let us look at the federal allocation for schools - the government disbursed RM1.48 million to 248 Chinese primary schools while it dished out RM709 million to build 15 new Mara Junior Science Colleges.

The number of Tamil primary schools dipped from 526 in 2001 to 523 in 2006 despite a 12.7% increase in enrolment. The new intake in 2001 numbered 88,810 students and rose to 100,142 students in 2006.

At present there are about 50,000 Malay students enrolled in vernacular schools.

Interesting figures.

I think the intake for vernacular schools are increasing due to the performance of the schools, the awareness of importance of mother tongue, and the discrimination faced in national schools. Even in Tamil schools, much improvement have been made, despite the major handicap faced by them. More 7A students, more aware parents, more NGOs helping out.

Popularity: 1% [?]

I’m still waiting for news from some of the HMs in Selangor but this seems to be true. Malaysiakini reports in detail while as usual nothing in the papers (except Makkal Osai).

I wonder how long before the protector of Tamil Schools reply to this latest news. What will the reply of  Pala nivel, Dr S Subramaniam, Saravanan, Devamany, etc will be? Who is involved in issuing orders to education department officer to call the HMs? By right, the Tamil schools are under the care of Tamil School controller. Perhaps can start with him. His details are below:

Penyelia Sekolah Tamil (DGA32)
Encik Vallikkannan a/l Ramasamy
03-5518 6518
rvallikkannan@yahoo.com.my

The information above is available in public domain and is not invasion of privacy. The website of Selangor Education Department has the contact info.

Out of 79 schools, only 11 registered. I wonder about the statistics for the Chinese schools. Did the state departments threaten the Chinese school heads as well?

Below is excerpt of Charles Santiago’s statement:

I however strongly denounce the act of the fear mongers who have ill-advised school principals against accepting the funds. The state education department should know better than to issue verbal instructions to principals asking them not to attend the function at the Petaling Jaya Civic Center..

Currently there are only 11 Tamil schools registered with the state government for financial aid, to be used to improve facilities and infrastructure. I encourage more schools to come forward for the future of the school children..

The government and state education department must not try to force a political issue out of the initiative by the Selangor state government . Instead they could try to genuinely reach out to help the Tamil and Chinese schools which are in dire need of funding.

Let’s see what the PTA representatives said to Malaysiakini:

Two PTA representatives interviewed later revealed that their principals had received instructions not to attend the event.

Kinrara school PTA president Michael Tamil (left) said the headmaster had received verbal instructions.

“He told me that he had received such instructions…I don’t see the rationale for this,” he said.

S Sugumaran of the Persiaran Raja Muda Musa school said the principal had received a phone call from the state education department, which issued similar ‘advice’.

“But the headmaster encouraged me to attend instead…she actually wanted to come but it would have been hard for her because she would have been easily identified (by the authorities),” he added.

Xavier had this to say:

Addressing participants at the event, state exco member Dr Xavier Jayakumar - who handles the health, plantation workers, poverty and caring government portfolio - said he had sent two letters to the education department director, seeking consent for the principals to attend the event.

Instead, he claimed, the department had warned them against doing so.

“I have learnt that (the officials) had made numerous phone calls to the principals,” said Jayakumar.

However, he said it was a positive sign that many others had shown up despite the directive.

“Even though we faced some hurdles before the event, I thank you all for coming today…because this is about our children’s priority, rather than that of politicians,” he said, drawing cheers from the crowd.

I’m appaled to even read about this. If this story is true, then those responsible should be hauled up and sacked. The Education Minister should initiate an investigation so that his name is not implicated. But, most importantly, the affected HMs must come forward to name the criminals. They can do it via the PTA representatives. Or the police can subpeona phone records to trace who made the calls to the schools or the HMs’ handphones. (Hmmm… watching police series/movies makes us think better!)

Better still, Selangor government should just call PTAs instead of HMs or just visit the schools to hand over the allocations. No need for some function which puts the HMs in difficult position.

Popularity: 1% [?]