Teluk Intan by-election: Needs of 28 Tamil schools to be looked into, says Kamalanathan

TELUK INTAN: The needs and problems at all 28 national type Tamil schools in the Teluk Intan parliamentary constituency will be tackled in stages according to priority, said Deputy Education Minister P. Kamalanathan.

He said the ministry had compiled information on the needs of the school so that action could be taken. Most of the schools complained they needed basic facilities such as chairs, tables, computers, re-wiring, maintenance and qualified teachers, he said.

“Those matters which can be settled through the (education) department, we will settle quickly,” he told Bernama after holding a special meeting with more than 150 teachers representing the 28 schools on Thursday.

Kamalanathan said matters such as additional buildings, relocation to new sites and others which were long term solutions, would be brought before the attention of the ministers concerned and cabinet committee on the Indian community.

Kamalanathan said there were 2,400 pupils and 368 teachers at the 28 schools and their Primary School Assessment Test (UPSR) results showed improvements each year.

The Government gave special focus in developing facilities and infrastructure at Tamil schools and this was proven from the allocation of RM610 million since 2009, he said.

In fact, he said the Tamil Schools Future Action Plan National Convention (2014-2025), which was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in February, proved the determination of the Government in transforming Tamil schools in the country.

Kamalanathan subsequently attended the Teachers and Mothers Day celebration at Sekolah Kebangsaan Tamil Nova Scotia here with the Barisan Nasional’s candidate for the Teluk Intan by-election, Datuk Mah Siew Keong.

Mah, during the ceremony, promised to help overcome the problems facing the schools and the communities there and said he would continue to give attention to efforts to boost the socio-economy of the residents in oil palm plantation areas.

“We want to overcome infrastructural problems and help towards the needs of the schools. If BN wins, definitely all their problems will be promptly solved,” he said.

In fact, as a local man, Mah said he understood and had identified the problems that had to be overcome not only in Teluk Intan town, but also in the rural areas.

Mah said he would also continue the tradition of holding discussions with plantation managers to find ways to boost the standard of living of the plantation workers and smallholders, seeing the areas comprised privately-owned plantations. – Bernama