SBJK poised to turn Chow Kit into qua��ity educationa�� area

KUALA LUMPUR: The redevelopment of Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih (SBJK), at Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz here is poised to transform Chow Kit into a quality educational area for the less fortunate children around the federal capital.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the construction of a new seven- storey academic building and a hostel building for the unique government funded school would see quality education being made available in the area.

“Who can imagine this Chow Kit can be transformed into a potential area for the future of homeless children.

“The seven- storey building, scheduled for completion by November next year and the hostel building by 2020, will provide new shelters for homeless and underprivileged children in the federal city,” he said when visiting the construction site of the school redevelopment project here yesterday.

Also present were Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani and Education director- general Tan Sri Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof.

In June last year, the Prime Minister during his visit to the school, announced an allocation of RM30 million to build an academic and hostel building to enable students in the school to have better and safer access to education.

SBJK which provides free learning to children, aged four to 19, was set up at the initiative of the Education Ministry to provide access to education for street children in and around Kuala Lumpur.

The building, which was previously known as the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Education Office, started its operation as a special school on Aug 19, 2013 and currently accommodates 152 students.

Noting that the education sector played a very important role in realising the vision of becoming a high income developed nation, Najib said the government had a huge responsibility in ensuring and providing access to education to all segments of the society. — Bernama