Distribution of Du Zhong grant rests with ministry – Wee
KUCHING: The final decision regarding the distribution of the RM12- million grant for Chinese independent schools ( Du Zhong) in the country rests on the Ministry of Education ( MoE).
In stating this, Kuching Chung Hua Middle Schools No 1, 3 and 4 Management Committee chairman Dato Richard Wee also admits that he is not sure how the grant would be distributed.
“The formula of this distribution is the decision by the MoE, or the (federal) government – although they did seek the views and suggestions from the Dong Zong ( United Chinese School Committees Association),” he said when contacted here yesterday.
Wee was prompted for comments on the recent statement made by Sarawak United Association of Private Chinese Secondary Schools Management Board ( Dong Lian Hui Sarawak), which claimed that it was not informed about the decision regarding the even distribution of the RM12 million between the 62 Du Zhong across the country.
Wee said he could comprehend the point raised by Dong Lian Hui Sarawak, given the legal provision involving Kuantan Chong Hwa High School ( Guan Zhong).
He acknowledged the argument by Dong Lian Hui Sarawak, which insisted that the RM12-million grant was meant for Du Zhong in the country.
“There have been also talks about the amount, which should not be evenly distributed because some schools are smaller than others.”
Nonetheless, Wee reiterated that the ultimate decision was still for MoE to make.
“Whether it is (divided evenly among) 60, 61 or 62, I really wouldn’t worry too much about it. After all, it would be a difference of about RM10,000 or RM50,000 – I wouldn’t want to be petty about it.”
If calculated, should the RM12 million be distributed evenly between 60 Du Zhong, each school should receive RM200,000 – this amount would drop a little to RM196,721 and RM193,548, if the RM12 million were to be divided by 61 and 62, respectively.
According to Wee, the committee has its own formula of distribution when it comes to Sarawak government’s annual grant for Du Zhong in the state.
“Sarawak government gives us RM7 million for 14 schools. Our formula is that we divide the RM7 million into (two) halves – one half is evenly distributed ( between schools), while the other half is distributed based on the number of students.
“This way, we are taking care of everybody because if you distribute evenly between the schools, it wouldn’t be fair to the big schools,” he said.
Last Friday, Dong Lian Hui Sarawak said it would be most appropriate for the MoE and the federal government to distribute the grant among the 60 Du Zhong nationwide.
On the ‘ 60+ 2’ distribution formula, it is learnt that MoE did contact Dong Zong for its input and the latter made the decision.
Meanwhile, Wee said the Kuching Chung Hua Middle Schools No 1, 3 and 4 Management Committee had been invited to the presentation of the RM12-million grant to Du Zhong, where the committee would be among the fund recipients.
The event is scheduled to take place at the New Era University College in Kajang, Selangor on Jan 11.
The formula of this distribution is the decision by the MoE, or the (federal) government – although they did seek the views and suggestions from the Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association). Dato Richard Wee, Kuching Chung Hua Middle Schools No 1, 3 and 4 Management Committee chairman