Notices from MoE catch Chinese primary schools off guard

KUCHING: Aided Chinese primary schools here are caught unprepared by two recent notices from the Ministry of Education ( MoE) to exclude fee-imposed computer classes from the curriculum.

President of the Federation of Boards of Management for Aided Chinese Primary Schools of Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Dvisions Jonathan Chai said the notices were SPI B.8/2000 on the guideline of setting up and managing a computer society and SPI Bil.13/2007 on the guideline of imposing other additional fee.

According to Chai, these notices state that no private business organisation is permitted to interfere with the school curriculum.

At a press conference here yesterday, Chai said the federation implemented computer classes some 20 years ago to equip students with computer literacy.

He claimed that at that time, the government neglected the development of aided Chinese primary schools and did not promote education on information and communication technology ( ICT), prompting the federation to work with Parents-Teachers Association ( PTA) to hold computer classes for students, he said.

He added that they had obtained the approval of the then MoE before implementing computer classes in school with parents paying the additional fee.

Under the existing Education Act, Chai said aided Chinese primary schools are permitted to run computer classes and include them as part of their curriculum, with the approval of both the school board of management and the PTA without affecting the stipulated lesson hours.

He observed that students had acquired certain ICT knowledge all these years, which paved the way for their learning in future.

However, the unexpected notices from the MoE had led to confusion among the schools, he said.

“The notices from the ministry which take effect immediately disrupted the arrangement made by the school for the year. The federation thus urges the ministry to grant a grace period.”

Chai said the board of management and PTA should be given sufficient time to deal with the agreement signed with providers of computer classes to avoid any infringement of contract. The federation looked forward to the MoE coming up with a comprehensive computer programme for schools to make up for what has been compromised, he said.

“This should include providing qualified teachers, teaching materials, computer devices and technical support to ensure that aided Chinese primary schools do not fall behind in terms of ICT learning,” he added.

He felt that if the ministry could not do this alone, it should consider working with the school board of management and PTA to provide ICT lessons for students.