Phew, after more than 3 decades! Hope the school will achieve more success after this. Also, some news stats are mentioned by Palanivel:24 fully-aided schools would benefit from redevelopment works under an RM86.4 million allocation;  RM5.3 million was allocated to upgrade existing facilities; partially-aided schools would also benefit from a RM69.9 million Education Ministry allocation; and MIC deputy president Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam added: 69 schools with fewer than 25 students would be relocated in the next few years.

IPOH: Up to 30 students used to sit in a classroom divided into three sections by plywood walls.

They struggled to listen to their teacher amid lessons given by other teachers, which could be heard through the thin partitions.

That was what at least 160 SRJK (T) Perak Sangeetha Sabah pupils had to endure before their school in Jalan Tun Abdul Razak here was rebuilt recently.

They now enjoy their lessons in a proper school environment thanks to the redevelopment of Tamil schools programme planned by MIC and the Cabinet Committee for the Development of Indians.

After more than three decades, the single-storey, two-classroom school was transformed into a four-storey building with 10 classrooms, a staff room and office, library, computer laboratory, science laboratory and living skills laboratories.

Headmistress D. Pathmani said the redevelopment programme brought great relief to her teachers and students.

“We can now organise events and celebrations on our own premises instead of elsewhere.”

The school started classes in the new building in January.

While waiting for the construction to finish, the pupils and teachers shared the premises of SK Buntong, 5km away.

Despite not having their own place for about two years, Pathmani saidher Year Six pupils who sat the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah examinations last year did exceptionally well.

“Eighteen of 25 students passed all five subjects and recorded the highest passing rate of 72 per cent for the school since 2006.”

She said the better study environment played a major role in the pupils’ achievements.

“The pupils had a more conducive learning environment at SK Buntong.

“This enabled them to focus and participate in lessons.”

She said she expected her UPSR pupils to do well this year because of the improved school condition.

Bahasa Malaysia teacher Lourde Mary, 46, said the upgrade had also benefited teachers.

She said all 14 teachers had either completed or were pursuing the Primary School Teaching Degree course introduced by the government in 2005.

Mary expects to complete the course in December next year.

She used to be embarrassed about not embracing technology and felt intimidated when her pupils displayed better aptitude for computers than her.

“I never had the interest in tinkering with a laptop or surfing the Internet. But to complete my assignments for the course, I had to learn to be computer-savvy.

“Now I am no longer ashamed and have a renewed passion for my vocation.”

MIC president Datuk G. Palanivel said he hoped the upgrading would produce more positive results and pave the way for advanced Tamil school education.

“I hope other Indian languages such as Telugu, Malayalam, Punjabi, Gujarati and Bengali will not be alien to Indian Malaysians.”

Palanivel said 24 fully-aided schools would benefit from redevelopment works under an RM86.4 million allocation this year.

Another RM5.3 million was allocated to upgrade existing facilities.

Partially-aided schools would also benefit from a RM69.9 million Education Ministry allocation.

MIC deputy president Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said efforts were ongoing to relocate low-enrolment schools to areas with higher demand for Tamil education.

He said 69 schools with fewer than 25 students would be relocated in the next few years.

He said the process was time-consuming and involved finding suitable sites as well as fund-raising.