‘ No computer classes during school hours’
> It contravenes Education Act 1996, Maszlee tells Chinese primary schools
PUTRAJAYA: The Education Ministry has ordered Chinese primary schools to cease conducting computer classes during school hours as it contravenes several laws under the Education Act 1996 (Act 550).
Its minister, Maszlee Malik, said computer classes fall under extracurricular activities and should only be conducted after school hours.
“The school hours which are set under the ministry circular are meant to include the national syllabus only and nothing else.
“Any support letter which was issued by the former deputy education minister to allow several schools to conduct computer classes during school hours will be automatically null and void,” he told reporters at the Higher Education Ministry building yesterday.
He added pupils will no longer attend computer classes with future pupil participation made optional.
His response came following complaints by parents that their children were being made to enrol in computer classes during school hours by several Chinese primary schools in the Klang Valley.
On another matter, the Education Ministry has decided to offer additional places for pre-university matriculation programmes to 1,000 poor ethnic Chinese students who scored straight As.
Maszlee said over 800 places have already been taken up from the additional allocation meant for students from the bottom 40 (B40) category.
“The offer for additional places is open to non-bumiputra students from lowincome families for the 2018/2019 session.
“I assure you that bumiputra seats and placement are not affected, while the additional 700 seats for the ethnic Indians announced by the previous government have been maintained and executed this year,” he said, prior to presenting matriculation offer letters to three SPM students at the ministry.
He said the Pakatan Harapan government will stand by its pledge to aid all students irrespective of race and taking into account their financial background.
“The matriculation programme will enable these students to pursue their studies in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” he said.
The Education Ministry will also issue a circular by January next year with guidelines on how to reduce the weight of students’ school bags.
Following a study in 2017 in both urban and rural areas, Maszlee said it showed that textbooks only constitute 28% of total bag weight, with 72% comprising stationery, uniforms, food, among others.