School canteens to stay open

KUALA LIPIS: School canteens will stay open during the fasting month, says Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (pic).

They will stay open throughout Ramadan in consideration of the needs of non-Muslim students and teachers, she said.

“Why should the canteens be closed? The non-Muslims will not be fasting. As such, they can go to the canteens and eat as usual.

“They are part of Malaysia, let them carry on as usual,” she said when asked whether school canteens would be closed during the Ramadan month, which is expected to begin on Thursday.

Fadhlina said canteen operators should get the consent of their respective Parent-Teacher Associations if they chose to open their canteens during Ramadan.

The minister was met after checking on the Comprehensive Special Model Schools (K11) programme at SMK Rancangan Penempatan Semula (RPS) Betau in Lipis on the first day of the new school year yesterday.

Also present was Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.

According to Sin Chew Daily, there were claims that some school canteens would be closed during the fasting month, and the students were asked to eat elsewhere, including in the toilets.

On the K11 model programme, Fadhlina said it was a special education transformation programme aimed at raising attendance rates while ensuring quality and relevant education for Orang Asli students.

So far, the programme has been conducted at two schools: SMK RPS Betau and another in Sarawak.

She expressed her satisfaction on the progress of the programme, saying the number of students has increased from 700 to 814.