(Malaysiakini) Several parents of children who study at a Tamil school in Batu Kawan handed over a memorandum to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today, asking for additional land to cater for the increasing number of students.
The parents want the state government to allocate another three acres so that the school can sit on five acres, which is the minimum for a fully functional and quality primary school, they said.
Last month, a Penang Education Department spokesperson told The Star that if the state government claimed that the land had been given for the purpose of constructing a school, then the state had to liaise with the federal government.
N. Ganesan, HRP advisor (right in photo), who accompanied the parents, said that about 100,000 young Indian children attend schools like SJK (T) Ladang Batu Kawan, and that is 50 percent of the future of the Indian community.
Ng (left), who is Lim's political secretary, said that it is the federal government which approves the construction of the school.
The parents want the state government to allocate another three acres so that the school can sit on five acres, which is the minimum for a fully functional and quality primary school, they said.They lamented that the school - SJK (T) Ladang Batu Kawan - lacked proper facilities and space, and is so dilapidated that its 130 students are studying in 'barn-like conditions'.
Represented by K Kalaiselvam, the three-page memorandum stated that the Batu Kawan township, once fully developed, will have a population of 150,000, of which 20,000 are expected to be Indians.
"Given this, it is time to plan for a school large enough to cater for such a population; we believe that the student numbers will range from 800 to 1,000," said Kalaiselvam, who is also pro-tem state chairperson of the Human Rights Party.
"It is our belief that if the school is well built and well equipped, the student numbers will far exceed expectations," he added.
Education Ministry team
It is learnt that today the Education Ministry is sending a team from Putrajaya and along with local administrators, will be expediting the transfer of land allocated by the Penang Development Corporation in 2008 to the school trustees.
Last month, a Penang Education Department spokesperson told The Star that if the state government claimed that the land had been given for the purpose of constructing a school, then the state had to liaise with the federal government.Batu Kawan MP P Ramasamy (right), who is also Deputy Chief Minister II, however said the land had already been handed over to the school's trustees in 2008.
He added that since the school was fully aided, it is under thejurisdiction of the federal government, and it is now up to them to decide when a building needs to be constructed.
He added that since the school was fully aided, it is under thejurisdiction of the federal government, and it is now up to them to decide when a building needs to be constructed.
The parents, however, have declined to meet with Ramasamy although he is their parliamentary representative and state exco for education.
Kalaiselvam said that politicians and civil servants of the entire spectrum have been "dangling this carrot" for far too long and the parents has had enough of all the playacting.
"They want to see some positive developments; enough of talk is what they are effectively now saying," he added.
"They want to see some positive developments; enough of talk is what they are effectively now saying," he added.
N. Ganesan, HRP advisor (right in photo), who accompanied the parents, said that about 100,000 young Indian children attend schools like SJK (T) Ladang Batu Kawan, and that is 50 percent of the future of the Indian community."In asking for a quality primary school, we are not talking here about funding or hardware, we are talking about the entire future of the Indian minority community in Malaysia," he said.
"If we allow these schools to remain in dilapidated condition, can you imagine the what impression it will make on the students?"
Ganesan said the state government often claims that it takes care of the needs of all citizens regardless of ethnicity.
"Here is a concrete situation, now please show in action what you say in words,"he added.
Ganesan said the state government often claims that it takes care of the needs of all citizens regardless of ethnicity.
"Here is a concrete situation, now please show in action what you say in words,"he added.
He added that HRP is currently conducting research to find out how many parents in the area would sent their children to the Tamil school if it was in good condition. "To date, 300 signatures and details of parents who said 'yes' have been collected."
Education's federal government's responsibility
Meanwhile, Komtar assemblyperson Ng Wei Aik who received the document from the group on behalf of Lim, said that education comes under the jurisdiction of the federal government.
Ng (left), who is Lim's political secretary, said that it is the federal government which approves the construction of the school."I hope the group does not press us too much, if they do, it shows they might have an extra agenda; they should also pressure the federal government," he added.
Ng said the state would look into the matter but urged for 'realistic' demands.
"There is a possibility that we can acquire the land for them but we need to justify it, there is no issue of us neglecting their plight," he added.
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