School likely to close after last remaining pupil leaves

Compiled by MAHADHIR MONIHULDIN, C. ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHAN

A PRIMARY school in Kuala Sangga, a predominantly-Chinese fishing village in Perak, faces closure after its last remaining pupil left this year, reported Sin Chew Daily.

According to SJK (C) Poay Chee headmaster Lim Kar Seng, it used to have two pupils in 2021 before one left for secondary school last year.

The remaining pupil, who was in Year Two, transferred to another school this year after her family moved away.

“After completing her Year Two this February, Huang En Ci has transferred to SJK (C) Sin Min after her family shifted.

“Without new pupils, we will have to stop operating once the new school year starts,” said Lim.

He added that the school has attempted to apply for a relocation permit but has yet to receive a reply from the district education office.

Huang Zhi Wei, the general affairs manager of the Perak Council of Chinese School Committees, said they had raised the matter with several MPs in Perak and arranged to meet with Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying to find a solution.

At present, he said, they can only await instructions from the district education office.

SJK (C) Poay Chee is one of three schools in the Larut, Matang and Selama district facing closure with residents of Kuala Sangga gradually moving away over the years.

Located 15km away from Kuala Sepetang, the village is accessible only by boat.

SJK (C) Poay Chee has been around since the 1940s and was categorised as a rural school by the Education Ministry in 2007.

The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.