THE new Sekolah Menengah Akademik Chong Hwa will emphasise cultural heritage and offer full tuition fee waivers for students from low-income families and children of its staff.
Chong Hwa also upholds a non-discrimination policy regardless of race or religion and warmly welcomes students of all ethnic backgrounds, said Chong Hwa Independent High School chairman Tan Sri Lim Keng Cheng in his speech during the groundbreaking ceremony at the City of Elmina, Selangor, on Nov 12.
Expressing his gratitude to Sime Darby Property Berhad for donating 4.05ha of land to the school, Lim said the construction of Chong Hwa’s new branch is slated for completion in two years.
Once built, the school is expected to accommodate some 3,000 students, he said in a press release.
The construction of the Elmina branch will proceed in three phases: Phase One will include the administrative building, teaching blocks, an auditorium and a swimming pool; Phase Two will see the addition of two more teaching buildings; and Phase Three will feature student dormitories, commercial shops and areas for future expansion.
Additionally, part of the land will be reserved for commercial development, generating income to support the school’s operations, the press release read.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who was present at the event, said the Chong Hwa Elmina branch will adopt a dual-track system, offering both the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia and the Unified Examination Certificate.
The Selangor state government has approved land use rights for the branch, saving over RM5mil through initiatives like land tax exemptions and reduced drainage system costs.
Loke added that Chinese independent schools interested in establishing new branches can use the Elmina branch’s construction model as a reference for their applications.
He acknowledged that Chinese education in Malaysia faces many challenges but emphasised that, with collective effort, its future remains bright.
