Tamil schools to get RM25mil to upgrade facilities

PUTRAJAYA: A total of 284 Tamil primary schools, or SJK(T), will receive RM25mil for maintenance and development.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan said 10 out of the 284 schools will have their sports facilities developed, while 50 have been chosen for the 21st century Frog Classroom makeover, a collaboration with YTL Foundation.

The allocation is part of the RM50mil announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s for SJK(T) in Budget 2017.

“The funds are the second phase of the RM50mil allocation, and will be distributed on April 2.

“The first phase saw the distribution of funds to 157 SJK(T) last October,” he said during a press briefing yesterday.

Kamalanathan said presently, the country has 524 SJK(T), of which 367 are partially-aided and 157 fully-aided.

Under phase one, schools in Perak (49), Selangor (31), Johor (18), Melaka (eight), Pahang (11), Kedah (12), Negri Sembilan ( 14), Kuala Lumpur ( six), Penang ( six), Kelantan (one) and Perlis (one) received RM25mil.

Under phase two, schools in Perak (65), Selangor ( 49), Johor ( 32), Melaka ( 12), Pahang (14), Kedah (42), Negri Sembilan ( 45), Kuala Lumpur ( 10), Penang ( 14), Kelantan ( one) and Perlis ( one) would receive the remaining RM25mil.

Perak, Kedah and Selangor got the bulk of the allocation, with schools in the states receiving RM5.26mil, RM4.51mil, and RM4.13mil respectively.