The school (one of the top performing schools in UPSR) was partially burnt down recently on June 19th, and nearly half the students end up studying in tents. 7 classrooms and 6 other roooms (living skills, sports, remedial, counselling, textbook and special pupils’ rooms) were destroyed with the loss estimated at RM436,902.
The good news:
the DPM who is also the Education Minister, has instructed that the new school be built here immediately for the benefit of its 1,258 pupils. The new school building will have 25 classroom, an increase from the earlier plan of 18 proposed by PWD (JKR). Also, RM100,000 has been allocated for the construction of cabins for temporary use.
“We want the new school to be ready within 12 months,” he said at a meeting with the Parent-Teacher’s Association (PTA) of the school, here Saturday.
He had instructed the Public Works Department to issue a Letter of Acceptance immediately so that construction work on the school costing more than RM3 million on a 2.19-hectare site contributed by Asiatic Development Berhad, the developer for Asiatic Indahpura, could begin next month.
The Star on Friday had highlighted that pupils in Year 3, 4 and special needs classes had to rough it out in both the morning and afternoon sessions since the fire on June 19.
The school, which is more than 60 years old, has 1,246 students and 74 teachers.
The losses sustained in the fire is estimated to be around RM436,000.
When asked at a dialogue with parents about the delay and the many promises that were made in the past about the relocation of the school, Muhyiddin replied that he was the Education Minister and work on the new school would start by next month and it was expected to be completed within one year.
The school’s PTA chairman K. Sree Thren said the parents and the Indian community in the area were elated as this put to rest a problem that had been plaguing the community for the past 14 to 15 years.
“In 2008, we found a piece of land about 1km away for the relocation of the school but unfortunately the project never got off the ground,” he said.
Now for the part that pisses me off (if indeed its true):
He (DPM) brushed aside another request from a parent who wanted the school to be turned into a fully aided school, saying, “It is all the same as presently, the salaries of all the teachers here together with new buildings and cabins are being paid for by the Government.
Doesn’t make sense at all right? If its “all the same”, then why bother having two categories or why don’t want to convert the school into full-aided? There’s a difference between being fully-aided and partially-aided, and I think its unbecoming and misleading to say otherwise.
In fact, since the new school building will be on land donated by the private sector, it will be easy to convert to fully-aided status. So, what gives?
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Does the news below sound right to you? To me, it looks a stop-gap measure to hide some deeper issues. Already two years, don’t tell me now only want to “provide” funds? Can the authorities provide a list of funds or assistance provided so far? Maybe publish in their website or hand out to the media.
The Kedah government will provide funds for Tamil schools, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak said yesterday.
He said the allocation would be according to the enrolment and infrastructure needed.
Azizan spoke to reporters after a meeting the chairmen of 58 parent-teacher associations of Tamil schools in the state.
The meeting was chaired by the state Domestic Trade and Consumerism, Siamese and Indian Affairs, Unity and Plantation Workers Committee chairman S. Manikumar at Wisma Darulaman here.
The Mentri Besar said requests for small amounts of aid would be handled immediately while those for large amounts would be included in the next Budget. – Bernama
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For last two years, I missed out on the Science Fair program organised by Tamil Foundation. This year, I was in danger of missing out again due to lack of time. So, I decided to help out as volunteer on the event day itself. It felt weird being a volunteer after being in organizing capacity in recent years for various events. Anyway, being a volunteer is about following orders, so hopefully I did OK. I was handed an awkward task of monitoring booths 11 to 20 on that day. Awkward in the sense that booths 11 to 16 were on one end, while booths 17 to 20 were on the opposite end of adjacent rows. In the end, it turned out OK because the participants handled most of the problems themselves, barring the odd requests for extra tables, problem with power supply, and problem with exhibit materials falling down 🙂 Oh yeah, I also took the liberty to go around snapping pictures (more than 200 shots!) 🙂
OK, enough of me talking about me. let’s move to the event.
Science Fair started in 2007 on a smaller scale. It is now in its fourth year, and is organised at both state and national levels. The one I attended is Selangor and KL state (combined). It was held at TNB Hall in Bangsar (Jalan Bukit Pantai). The event is open to all Tamil schools in Selangor and KL. I think there are about 97 schools in Selangor and 15 in KL. But a total of 72 schools confirmed to take part this, and eventually 70 turned up. The schools were given topics to choose and they were then expected to come out with experiments that showcase the particular topic. There were few recurring topics during the event. Actually, Tamil Foundation sends facilitators to each school to guide and monitor the progress of the participating teams. The students have to prepare a log book of their activities as well. So, its quite an elaborate and time consuming program (hats off to the organizers and facilitators!)
The event began around 7.30am (but I was uncharacteristically late!). I arrived around 8.10am at the hall, and most of participants were busy setting up their booths. A team consists of 5 students and two teachers, but I saw many booths having more than two teacher, while some even imported “help” from outsider (advice, setting up etc.). Talked to two of my friends who were there in the capacity as free “consultants” for their respective schools. I was simply amazed at the effort put in by teachers and students in most of the booths. Some really looked expensive and professionally done. Even the students were smartly dressed in some instances.
After about 1.5 hours (9.10am) ,the judging began. At this point, only students were allowed to be present at the booths. The rest of the “supporters” were seated around the hall. Judges, in teams of three, went around evaluating between 5 to 6 booths each. I noticed some familiar faces like Ponnusamy, Logeswaran, Kamalendran, Kannan, Karthe, and Velavan among the panel of judges. It was interesting to watch the students trying their best to do their presentation and also answer questions from the judges. Their command of English was quite good as well! Maybe the chosen students were among the best students in their respective schools.
The evaluation ended around 12pm, after which the judges retired to their judges room to reconcile marks. The hall was now open to public, and boy, the public just swarmed the place! Teachers, parents, students..all flocked to view their booths. Proud parents stood beaming as they watched their kids explain to visitors about their experiments. Teachers were busy adjusting things and exchanging notes among themselves. It was hectic, and yet at the same time, there was an air of accomplishment. I just felt proud seeing these kids.
The fair ended around 3pm, and it was time for closing ceremony. At this point there were some confusing on seating arrangements, which I think should have not occurred in the first place. After some sorting out, and apologies to the audience, the closing ceremony started. There were 6 speeches – program coordinator, program director, Tamil Foundation president, chief judge (I was amazed to see my ex-school teacher, Mr VKS Shanmugam up on stage!) , VIP – director of National Science Center Associate Professor Dr Irmawati, and VIP Selangor State EXCO Dr Xavier Jayakumar. Maybe should reduce the speeches to just 3 in future. But I appreciate the speakers who kept their speech to minimal.
After the speeches, it was prize giving time. Even though the event is a expo, but there’s an element of competition to spur the students. Thus various awards were given out. Unfortunately, the description or purpose of the awards were not mentioned, and this kind of defeats the purpose of giving awards in the first place. The movement of students on stage and also arrangement for photography on stage was also not planned properly, resulting in impromptu arrangements. Something to be improved in the next edition, I guess. Perhaps the organisers need to do a simple rehearsal next year to avoid such hiccups.
Finally, the proper winners were announced. The initial prize included cash amount of RM500, RM300, and RM200 respectively for top three winners. But EWRF president agreed to top up RM500 for each of the top three winners for both states. (So, its RM1000, RM800 and RM700 respectively). For KL state, top three schools were chosen while five schools were chosen in Selangor. I didn’t have time to jot down all the winners since was controlling students on one end of the stage. Among the winners which I remember are:
I was touched to see tears of joy from some of the students and even teachers. It goes to show how much they appreciate getting some award or recognition from others. This kind of program can spur students and teachers alike to perform better, not only in education, but in their daily life.
The program ended around 5.30pm. We helped to clean the hall, but I had to leave by 8pm due to other commitments. Not sure what time the rest of them went home.
In summary, it was a good program, an eye-opener for some sections of the community. Its an event that should be given more prominence and support. As for improvements, I think it needs more publicity and funding. Secondly, schools and parents should be encouraged to send their students to attend the fair, apart from just sending few students to take part. As for the organising part, a rehearsal or two will tie up the loose ends.
I take this opportunity to congratulate the organisers, facilitators, judges, volunteers, schools, teachers, parents and students for a job well done.
I hope to contribute again in the National level event later this year.
This is happening in the most developed state in the country.
Interesting to note how the executive chairman of a utilities company says that its to reciprocate support given by people during the by-election. So, in other words, the utilities company works not based on public need, but on whim and fancies?
Anyway, good to see the project successful within a month, and at such big cost of RM600,000.
With just 60 students, won’t be long before this school faces extinction or relocation to better populated areas.
HULU SELANGOR, May 3 — After more than 50 years depending on spring water, Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJK) Ladang Escot here finally received piped water today.
SJK Tamil Ladang Escot has an enrolment of 60 pupils, who are mainly children of oil palm estate workers, and 11 teaching staff.
Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) executive chairman Tan Sri Rozali Ismail said the utility swung into action on learning of the predicament the school was facing during the just-concluded Hulu Selangor by-election.
“This is to reciprocate the support given by the people in Barisan Nasional’s win in the by-election. As a government-linked company, we will support the government’s aspirations,” he told reporters after checking on the pipe-laying work to supply water to the school today.
He added that the job entailed a 1.5km pipeline with the overall cost of the water supply project to the school totalling RM600,000.
Also present was the newly-elected MP for the constituency, P. Kamalanathan. — Bernama
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This is an interesting news release by Bernama. There’s no mention of when the allocation was approved or whether its an repeat news. As we know, the previous allocation were insufficient due to increase in construction material costs. Its this kind of half-baked news that cause people to question or look down on the authorities. I guess we are expected to be thankful/grateful/be-a-fool for this allocation (average of RM1.625 million per school) . Maybe should sing praises and kowtow as well, is it?
KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 — The government has allocated RM130 million to repair and upgrade 80 Tamil schools nationwide, Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan said.
He said the projects were in various stages of implementation and expected to be completed within two years.
“I believe that with the allocation, infrastructure problems faced by Tamil schools can be overcome,” he told reporters after opening the SRJK (T) Jalan Fletcher’s sports carnival here today.
Saravanan, a former student of the school, said there were 15 Tamil schools in Kuala Lumpur and except for one, which is under a church management in Sentul, there was no problem channelling assistance to the other schools.
He said Tamil schools needed the government’s assistance especially in providing the infrastructure to ensure a conducive teaching and learning atmosphere in line with the vision to create quality human capital.
Saravanan said he was confident that under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, there would be changes to 523 Tamil schools in the country. — Bernama
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