Parents protest over school being left in wilderness

Around one hundred parents of a Rawang Chinese primary school's students held a peaceful protest in front of its premises against the Education Ministry for delaying approval for its allocation since last year.

And because of the delay in the approval of the management expenditure estimate for SJKR(C) Kota Emerald, it has been forced to depend on an acting headmaster, teachers from other schools and temporary teachers.

Which means the school does not have its own headmaster or teaching staff.

The protest, in which the parents held up banners expressing their concern, was led by the head of the school's parents teachers association, Chai Chuan Way (left).

It started at 8am today to end half an hour later with Chai handing over a memorandum to Rawang BN coordinator Soong Beng Khoon.

Meanwhile, PKR Selayang MP William Leong and Rawang state assemblyperson Gan Pei Nei were present to lend support to the parents.

Gan, on behalf of the Selangor state government, also handed over a RM30,000 mock cheque to school board chairman Tang See Hang to meet the school's daily expenses during the interim period.

Running on temporary basis

The year-old school has an enrollment of about 400, since its opening there had been no sign of its entitlement from the ministry.

Speaking to the press later, Chai said that this had resulted the school being unable to appoint an official headmaster and teachers.

He added that the school currently operates with an acting headmaster, thirteen teachers "borrowed" from nearby schools and engaging twelve teachers at its own expense.

Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong had recently said that the ministry is still awaiting Public Service Department approval so the school can get an official headmaster.

He also said that the school can refer the whole matter to the Selangor Education Department, including the issue of not being included in the ministry's list of schools.

However, Chua rebutted Wee's statement, pointing out that the school had been functioning since last year, and so the ministry should straightaway approve the management expenditure estimate.

He said that the lack of teachers has drained parents' interest in sending their children to this school.

Wee leaves dissatisfaction simmering 

Tang also expressed dissatisfaction with Wee on the way he is dealing with this matter.

The former Selangor exco member claimed that the board was not aware the  Management Expenditure Estimate 's purpose in the first place, before finally realising that it had not been approved.

He said that he had met with the Selangor state education department three times and had brought this issue to Wee's attention as well.

"As the board chairperson, I regret the education ministry, especially Wee on the way they have been dealing with this matter," he added.

Gan urged the BN federal government to resolve this matter within a week.

She said that the minister responsible should bring up this issue during the cabinet's weekly meeting.

"If the (federal) government can give away RM100 to the students under BR1M, why they can't it approve the management expenditure estimate?" she asked.