DPM: Ignore rumours on vernacular schools

ALOR SETAR: Teachers in vernacular schools should not listen to rumours that the Government will close these schools if they continue to record low enrolment, said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

“Who said we want to close Chinese and Tamil schools? There is no Act that allows the Education Minister to close any school.

“Even if these schools record low enrolment, they will not be closed,” he told a gathering of Chinese and Tamil school teachers from Kedah here yesterday.

“Teachers in vernacular schools should not believe such rumours spread by quarters who want to gain support in the general election.”

Muhyiddin, who is Deputy Prime Minister andeducation Minister, said of the 1,700Chinese and Tamil schools in the country, 40% recorded a low enrolment of between 10 and 15.

“But the Government has no intention to close them,” he said. He reiterated that the setting up of vernacular schools was agreed to by the parties in the Barisan Nasional to signify the understanding of all major communities in the country.

He said the Government spent Rm2.24mil annually for each Chinese school and about Rm1.9mil for each Tamil school.

“The amount is not that different from what we spend on national schools, which each receive Rm2.26mil a year,” he said.

At the event, Muhyiddin presented warrants of allocations totalling Rm14.4mil to 89 Chinese schools and 58 Tamil schools.

Present were housing and local government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung and Barisan leaders from Umno, MCA and MIC.