‘Don’t convert Tamil schools’

The Tamil Foundation argues that the Education Ministry will muscle in on Tamil schools if these schools are turned into fully aided ones.

PETALING JAYA: The Tamil Foundation, a non-governmental organisation aimed at safeguarding the Tamil language in the country, does not want the government to convert partially-aided Tamil schools into fully-supported establishments.

Tamil Foundation committee member K Sivakumaran said the government should instead upgrade all existing fully-aided Tamil schools and put them on par with national schools.

“What is the point of changing the titles when the infrastructure at Tamil schools is deplorable,” he told FMT.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak promised that he would look into converting in stages partially-funded Tamil schools to fully aided schools. He, however, did not specify how many of the 523 Tamil schools in the country would be fully aided.

Najib, who was speaking to tens of thousands of Indians gathered at the Unity Ponggal Festival in Dataran Merdeka, added, however, that the “conversion” would have to be discussed first with his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin who is also Education Minister.

But Sivakumaran argued that the idea was futile because currently fully-aided Tamil schools were also in deplorable condition. As such, there was no difference between these schools and partially-aided ones.

“The infrastructure in both categories of schools is bad. Fully-aided schools receive funds from the Education Ministry for infrastructure, while partially aided schools have to depend on donations from the public to upgrade the school.

“But we find that the condition of these two types of schools are the same. So, it just does not matter if they are fully aided or otherwise.

“Almost all Tamil schools are in shameful conditions,” he added.

Is Najib sincere?

Another concern is that once converted into a fully-aided Tamil school, the school’s Parent-Teacher Association and board of governors are subject to towing the line set out by the Education Ministry.

“If they become fully-aided schools, the Education Ministry can intervene in any decision made by the school board.

“Under the fully-aided scheme, the school’s land belongs to the government. The school administration then is forced to bow to the ministry’s directives,” said Sivakumaran.

There are currently 168 fully-aided Tamil schools in the country.

Sivakumaran further said that the Education Ministry should not meddle in the administration of Tamil schools even if they were fully funded.

“The government should encourage all Tamil schools to form a board of governors. The board should consist of Education Ministry officials, parents, alumni and the public, all under one umbrella,” said Sivakumaran.

He also said the Education Ministry must change its mindset and accord equal treatment to all schools.

“A separate department to improve and upgrade Tamil schools must also be set up. This department must be headed by a Tamil educationist,” he added.

Sivakumaran stressed that if Najib was sincere in his efforts to improve, more non-Malays must be appointed to decision-making positions within the Education Ministry.