KUALA LUMPUR: No Tamil vernacular schools will be closed under the Madani administration, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
“No SJKT will be closed under this government,” she said, reminding the Indian community that the government would take care of the SJKT.
She was responding to concerns raised by Member of Parliament RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) about the closure of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Tamil) Ladang Katumba in Kedah during her ministry’s winding-up speech in Dewan Rakyat on Feb 24.
Although the school has only nine students, she said the ministry would take the initiative to ensure its continued existence, even if that means relocating it.
She said the ministry would ensure that the students continue receiving education like other children.
Meanwhile, she added that a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) Education Task Force was in place to ensure enrollment in STEM fields continues growing.
“Recent data shows an increase in student enrollment in STEM fields from 40.95% in 2021 to 50.83% in 2024.
The task force, she said, will enhance STEM education and ensure the country has a sufficient workforce in this field by improving teachers' skills and strengthening STEM education through co-curricular activities, she said.
"We are also providing much better STEM learning facilities by maintaining 508 science labs and 525 computer labs and establishing strategic collaborations with various parties.
“The target of 60.40% enrollment in STEM will continue to be strengthened with a more holistic strategy,” she said.
