Ministry to help schools resolve financial issues

PETALING JAYA: The Education Ministry has pledged to work closely with schools’ board of governors to solve any financial issues in institutions of learning, but assistance is subject to available funds.

In a statement yesterday, the ministry said that a total of 1,928 mission, religious and vernacular schools nationwide receive funding from the Government.

“The funds include teacher and support staff emoluments, per capita grants based on the number of students and subjects, annual Budget allocations, and other annual recurring expenses for utility bills that is capped at RM5,000 per month,” it said.

The statement was in response to the financial woes faced by St John’s Institution, a mission school in KL.

“Up till August this year, St John’s received RM38,155 for its utility bills.

“On the day the electricity was cut, a discussion was held with Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), the school and the board of governors.

“Electricity was reconnected and TNB agreed to reschedule payments,” said the ministry.

St John’s Institution Alumni Association president Isham Ishak told The Star on Wednesday that following the meeting, TNB waived RM55,000 in interest, which brought the total bill to about RM190,000.

It was proposed that the school pay RM50,000 by the end of this month.

The outstanding balance would be paid over the next three years in instalments, on top of the school’s monthly bills.

TNB, he said, had also offered to install solar panels to reduce electricity consumption.

The alumni association has since set up the #SAVESJI Fund to resolve the school’s outstanding electricity bill.

Contributions to the school can be made to Persatuan Alumni Sekolah St John KL (1988), Maybank account 5140 5718 4577.