ONLY two Tamil vernacular schools (SJKT) in Selangor have closed since 2008 due to a lack of students.
State human resources and poverty eradication committee chairman V. Papparaidu said both schools were in the Kuala Selangor district.
He said SJKT Ladang Minyak in Bestari Jaya was closed in 2018 after its intake dwindled to zero.
“SJKT Ladang Bukit Ijok was also closed as there were no longer any students registered there.
"However, it has since relocated and is now operating under the Sepang District Education Office using a new school code,” he said.
Papparaidu added that based on Education Management Information System (EMIS) data as of June 30, 2026, there were 99 Tamil schools operating in Selangor.
Of these, 43 are in urban areas and 56 are in rural areas, he said during the Selangor state assembly sitting at Bangunan Dewan Negeri Selangor in Shah Alam Wednesday (Aug 12).
Papparaidu was responding to a question from Mohd Shafie Ngah (PN-Sungai Ramal) on the number of Tamil schools that had ceased operations and the reasons behind their closure.
Addressing concerns over the poor conditions at SJKT Ladang West Country Barat, Papparaidu said based on EMIS data, the school had 136 students and 11 teachers, covering various subject specialisations.
He added that the state government consistently channelled funds to vernacular schools, splitting allocations equally between physical infrastructure upgrades and Parent-Teacher Associations (PIBG).
"The PIBG funds can be used for sports, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), or science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programmes.
“Selangor has allocated RM5mil for Tamil schools and transportation aid for needy students.
"We have also provided RM300 in cash aid to identified pupils from SJKT Ladang West Country Barat,” he said.
