Relocation of schools yet to be approved, says Chong
KUCHING: The Sarawak Education Department, SJK Chung Hua Bako and SJK(C) Kai Nang, Sibu boards of management have been advised to prepare all the necessary documents for the relocation of these primary schools to be submitted to Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching during her visit here this April 4.
Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Chong Chieng Jen said Teo and her ministry officers will be here to meet with State Education Department officers to go through the documents and make sure that all relevant documents are in order before they are submitted to the ministry.
“We have taken extra steps to ensure that these documents are all in order and once confirmed, Teo and her officers will do the submission for endorsement of approval at ministry level,” he told a press conference at state DAP headquarters here yesterday.
Chong, who is Pakatan Harapan ( PH) Sarawak chairman, said Teo’s visit this Thursday is to expedite the approval of application for the relocation of the two Chinese primary schools.
“There is a need for relocation of these two schools and the procedure for this is that all documentation has to be prepared at state level prior to submission at federal level.
“When all the documents are in order, the Ministry of Education ( MOE) will give the necessary approval for relocation and approval for building plan,” he explained, adding that the documents for relocation and building plan approvals can now be submitted to the ministry together.
According to him, the relocation of both schools have yet to be approved despite the circulation of the ‘ Watikah Persetujuan Pindahan Tapak’ (Site Relocation Agreement Credential Letter) for SJK Chung Hua Bako prior to the 13th General Election (GE13) last year.
“This ‘watikah’ was signed on May 5, 2018 and shown around as approval for relocation before the polling date for GE13 on May 9, 2018.
“It was too close to polling date to not raise any suspicions,” he said, seemingly insinuating that the then Barisan Nasional ( BN) government was using the circular to win votes. He noted that he has since checked with MOE regarding the ‘watikah’ and found out that the approval for relocation has yet been granted for SJK Chung Hua Bako.
“I’ve shown this to Teo who has checked with her officers and informed that there’s no such thing (‘watikah’). Even the documents are not in order yet and that’s why she has to make special trip to come to Kuching.”
Once approved, SJK Chung Hua Bako will be relocated to Taman Berlian in Kota Samarahan while SJK( C) Kai Nang, Sibu will be relocated to a site in Stutong, Kuching.
“SJK( C) Kai Nang, Sibu is relocating to Kuching because there’s not enough students there.
“Upon its relocation, it will be able to cater to the demand of students intake as applications at the current Chinese school namely SJK Chung Hua No. 2 in the area always exceed the allowable space by 100 to 200 students every year,” said Chong.