Titiwangsa sports school in a sorry state
the future of national-level sports schools is still being debated, shortcomings plaguing state-level ones have raised more stink.
Kuala Lumpur’s SMK Seri Titiwangsa sticks up like a sore thumb as the school struggles to cope with producing athletes for a range of sports (handball, netball, soccer, hockey, athletics, taekwondo, boxing and silat).
While other state sports schools have mini stadiums and training halls, students in SMK Seri Titiwangsa have none.
Some parents also claim facilities at normal schools are better and that they have to take leave to send their children to the Seri Permaisuri Mini Stadium, about 15kms away from the school, for training.
They also revealed that their children are staying at the old Education Ministry building in Kuala Lumpur where facilities, like beds and lockers, are worn out.
Windows there are made of plywood, while the drainage system is deplorable.
Titians Titan Club, an organisation comprising parents of Seri Titiwangsa hockey players, president Faizal Daud said: “The facilities at this school is not up to the mark. A sports school should have sound funding for grassroots development.
“Students have to stay at other dormitories and the school does not provide transportation to support their activities.
“My son, who is a Seri Titiwangsa hockey player, has yet to receive a jersey in the three years he has been schooling there.”
Parents Teacher Association chairman Zaki Ahmad has urged the Education Ministry, Sports Ministry and the Federal Territories Ministry to settle these issues immediately.
“We lack basic necessities such as a mini track, turf field and hall.
“Funding has never been enough and the students have to source their own funds. This is the situation for all six core sports at our school.
“So we would really like the ministries to visit the school and see for themselves the problems we are facing. We don’t want them to think that these are all empty talk,” said Zaki.
For the record, SMK Seri Titiwangsa were promoted to sports school status in 2012. Firdaus Hashim, Zulfaizan Mansor, Naqib Nor Said and Syafiq Aznan