Staying ahead with education
TERMITE infested classrooms, leaking roofs, and growing congestion in schools were the main topics raised when the state's Chinese primary schools and independent schools met in Ipoh on Saturday.
The event was a dialogue between MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and the schools' board of governors.
At the end of the two-hour dialogue, representatives from 15 schools submitted their memorandum to Dr Chua, who is also Perak MCA chairman, for further action.
Welcome: Dr Chua being greeted by representatives upon his arrival for the dialogue session
Dr Chua said the fact that less than 10% of the 186 Chinese primary schools and nine independent schools had submitted a memorandum was testimony that MCA's efforts to resolve the schools' problems had been effective in the last two years.
"There are many important and obvious changes to Chinese education under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Najib Tun Razak's leadership.
"The allocations for the schools have increased.
Voicing concern: A member of the Perak Chinese school board of governors representatives asking a question during the dialogue session.
"Each school is also given RM2,000 a month to help pay utility bills, while efforts are underway to settle the entire amount eventually," he said when opening the dialogue.
However, Dr Chua noted that there could be some administrative problems in the handling of education issues because the ministry was a very huge organisation.
While efforts to continue improving the conditions of the schools were ongoing, Dr Chua said MCA would continue to have regular dialogues with the schools to get feedback on how to make things even better.
He noted that Chinese language was recognised worldwide as an increasingly valuable economic asset.
As such, the dialogue was also a good platform to update the school board on education matters and development at home and abroad, he added.
Dr Chua said the school boards had been doing a good job in the development of Chinese education in the country.
As such, he said, the board members must be united, brave and vocal on their stand on education matters.
Dr Chua said the majority of the board members of the Chinese schools in the country were also MCA grassroots leaders, and this had facilitated the party's efforts to develop Chinese education.
Nevertheless, he said the party was willing to cooperate with others for the sake of education.
Dr Chua also advised all board members to stay united under a common mission – education – in order to garner respect from others.
He cautioned them against fighting each other via statements in the Chinese newspapers.
"Whatever Chinese education issues reported in the Chinese media is no longer confined to those who have a command in the language and understand the issues."
Dr Chua also urged the board members not to be swayed by Pakatan Rakyat leaders who promised anything and everything but was short of delivering their pledges.
"The Pakatan always gives the impression that every problem can be resolved when it takes over the Government.
"Please ask Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim how many Chinese primary schools and independent schools they plan to build and whether the coalition will recognise the Unified Examination Certificate from the independent schools," he added.
Earlier, Perak MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon who paid tribute to Chinese educationists and board members, said the party always welcomed new ideas from them to further improve the education system.
Dr Mah, who is also a state executive councillor, said the Perak government had approved eight plots of land to build Chinese primary schools in the last three years.
MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, who is also Transport Minister, said foreigners were impressed by the development of Chinese education in Malaysia.
He noted that MCA took a wholesome approach in helping to develop education and contribute to the country's development, citing the 200,000 graduates produced by the two MCA institutions – Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman in the last four decades as a fine example.
-The Star-
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