Archive for the ‘Tamil-Schools’ category

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Caring for school with single student

June 24th, 2009
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I first heard this via the 8am news on Minnal FM. Then saw the article in NST:

A school with only one pupil is no reason for the government to shut it down.

This was the undertaking given by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin when asked on the case of SRJK (T) Ladang Sungai Timah in Teluk Intan, which has only one student.

However, Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said the government had advised schools with low enrolments to register students in larger schools nearby.

This, he said, would provide students with a better learning environment and better interaction with their peers.

“These cases are prevalent, especially among Tamil schools. Whatever it is, we leave it to the discretion of the school’s management.

“This is a considerate government and we will not shut schools like this. The student wants to study, so let her.”

K. Humah, 12, is a Year Six student and had been the sole student at the school, which has three academic staff and a gardener, since her first year.

Muhyiddin agreed that any attempt to close the school would be politicised.

“If that happens, some within the community would accuse the government of not caring for their education.”

Only thing missing was the announcement of some immediate allocation to improve something in the school.

Now, if I was  really caring and had the power, I would advise the student to shift to another Tamil school nearby, or make arrangements to provide transport. Then, I’ll proceed to authorise the transfer of the school to another location where there is high probability of more students registering.

The girl is in Standard Six. 4 more months and she will be ex-student. Nor is it practical to ask her to move in the midst of UPSR year. What will be the status of the school in 6 months time? No students enrolled in any other year. Unless the school manage to get some students enrolled for Year One next year, the school will be closed down, no? So, another Tamil school closed down due to “considerate” attitude? If not closed down, then what? Empty of students, the staff do what everyday?

As we all are well aware, there’s no new vernacular school license being issued. Thus the only way to survive is to relocate schools with very small enrolment to different locations. The authority to provide permission to transfer school license lies with…hmmm…..

Is there an attempt to pull our legs here?

Earlier in April (if I’m not mistaken), there was similar act in being “considerate” to the plight of SJKT Ladang Bukit Jalil, by asking to increase the number of classrooms in the original plan. But the actual problem is the small land allocation in the MIDST of a cemetary and temple. This was being protested by the  parents and PIBG of  SJKT Ladang Bukit Jalil as its an unconducive environment. The land allocated also did not consider future expansion and increased enrolment.

I smell a rat here.

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Tamil Youth Bell Club raises Indian issues

May 26th, 2009
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The issues are:

–  no announcement in Tamil at international airports around the country.

– television news readers had failed to promote Indian culture through their dressing

– deejays on radio channels, especially Thr. Raaga, were not fluent in Tamil

In response, Dr S Subra said at the Tamil Bell function:

… agreed to bring the matter up to the Government, said television and radio channels should use proper Tamil in their programmes.

He said the influence of Western media and culture among the community’s youths had resulted in the lack of support for the community’s own religious and cultural programmes, adding that Indian organisations should act to preserve the Tamil language.

Subramaniam, who is also MIC secretary-general, said the party had urged the Government to include religious studies as a subject in Tamil schools as a way of inculcating moral values in Indian schoolchildren.

Yawn.

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Posted in Indian, Religion, Tamil-Schools

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redevelopment programme for tamil schools?

May 26th, 2009
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I never heard of any Government “redevelopment progamme”, let alone the second phase of it. As far as I know, there’s two stimulus packages in the last 7 months. Is that the same thing? Total allocation for “rebuilding” and “repairing” Tamil schools is RM130 million (30+50+80). The 60 (or 62  as mentioned below) schools are under the RM80 million package.

Redevelopment = rebuilding and/or repairing?

I’m totally lost here, so hopefully some of the MIC fellas will clear the air over Samy’s statements:

Sixty Tamil schools will be rebuilt, many with new buildings, under the second phase of the Government’s redevelopment programme, MIC president Datuk Seri S. samy Vellu said.

The schools would be redeveloped under the RM100mil fund allocated by the Government, he said after visiting the partially-burnt Selangor River Tamil school here with Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk S.K. Devamany, on Monday.

Samy Vellu said 72 Tamil schools have already been redeveloped under the first phase.

There are about 525 Tamil schools in the country, with more than 300 schools falling under the partially-aided government schools category.

Samy Vellu said the Public Works Department had recently tendered out the projects for the 62 schools, with work on the schools to commence soon.

On the Selangor River Tamil school, he said RM650,000 has been set aside by the Government to build a new building that would cater for six to seven classrooms.

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Petronas apologises over chemical leak incident

May 24th, 2009
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Following the chemical leak and subsequent protest by parents and NGOs concerned about SJKT Ladang Emerald, the below action were taken by Petronas. They had a meeting with the concerned people on Friday:

Pupils, teachers and other staff of SJK (T) Ladang Emerald who were affected by a chemical leak last Tuesday will receive free medical check-up from Petronas.

The company will also reimburse all medical expenses incurred in the treatment of the students.

Petronas Gas officials, together with the Health Department and Department of Occupational Safety and Health officers, had a meeting yesterday with the school administration and the Parent-Teacher Association.

Petronas officers apologised for the chemical leak and explained how the leak occurred while the Health department officers gave an explanation on the effects of the chemical, ethyl mercaptan.

Kota Raja member of parliament Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud also attended the meeting. She later said Petronas had also agreed to carry out community service projects at the school.
The company also gave an assurance that such an incident would not recur and all safety aspects would be strictly followed.

The leak occurred during an annual maintenance work by a contractor appointed by Petronas at 11am on Tuesday.

The Shah Alam City Gate facility, a gas sub-station, regulates natural gas flow to industries in Shah Alam.

The chemical was being added to the gas when the leak occurred and a gust of wind blew it into the school in Jalan Bukit Kemuning, 300m away. Ethyl mercaptan is used to give a strong odour to natural gas.

… During yesterday’s meeting, Petronas ruled out moving the facility as it had been there for more than 10 years, before the area became developed.

PTA chairman S. Murugiah said the medical check-up would be done in medical camps to be run by Petronas for two months.

He said he was happy with the assurance by Petronas that they were taking all possible measures to ensure such leaks did not recur.

Looks like a lot of work for Petronas over the blunder. Perhaps the school could have requested 20 PCs as well 🙂

It goes without saying that the procedures should be reviewed, the contractor penalised and more stringent methods are introduced.

We hope such incidents do not occur, but all is easier said than done. Petronas won’t move the statio since it came before the school. So, move the school?

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Survey in schools to identify kids without birth cert

May 22nd, 2009
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A survey is planned by  Public Complaints Bureau to determine the number of pupils without birth certificates in primary schools, says Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator Datuk T. Murugiah.

He said he had received many complaints from parents and Parent-Teacher Associations that their children could not pursue secondary education as they did not have birth certificates.

Murugiah cited SJK (Tamil) Puchong where 16 pupils did not have birth certificates.

“This problem is rampant in many primary schools. I have instructed the bureau to send special forms to all schools so that they can tell us how many students don’t have birth certificates,” he said, adding the schools have one month to fill the forms and send them back to the bureau.

Its a good move. We hope to see the results of the survey and the follow-up actions, even if Murugiah may not around to see it in a month.

I remember last year, special task force were set up at NRD to facilitate identity document problems. Not sure what is the status of those task force now.

Even political party like MIC handles such cases, so one  can wonder if  the schools did not approach th party officials, since Tamil schools and MIC are very much intertwined.

Next question would be – is it the official responsibility of the school/HM/teacher to highlight such cases or can they just close two eyes?  It should be a moral responsibility of course, but then, not many teachers/officials would have the time or know-how to handle such cases. And some may think that even the kids’ parents are not bothered or unable to do anything, so why should the teacher get involved.

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Posted in Indian, Tamil-Schools

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