Bagan Dalam assemblyperson Satees Muniandy has questioned if the Education Ministry’s ‘lacklustre attitude’ towards the closure of SK Assumption is due to the school’s missionary roots.
He said this after news reports announcing the abrupt closure of the 90-year-old missionary school, allegedly due to a land developer deciding to ask for the property to be returned.
Satees, in a statement, claimed that despite the school being built on private land, former BN federal and state governments had promised the land would be acquired by the Education Ministry.
However, this allegedly led to inconclusive discussions between the Education Department and the landowner leading up to the announcement of the school’s closure.
“Considering the development of the issue and lacklustre attitude of Education Department officials in this matter, I couldn’t help myself but wonder if SK Assumption is being victimised for its missionary roots?
“Obviously, the Education Ministry has a policy of not heeding such partially aided schools that are facing (a) risk of closure due to many factors.
“Schools on private land and lack of students are convenient excuses to let these schools dwindle in numbers. This is the case of vernacular and missionary schools in this country; it’s an open secret,” Satees said.
He claimed it was apparent victimisation since the management board could have sought a solution, including raising funds to buy the land from the landowner.
“The least that the state Education Department can do in this matter is to highlight it to the state exco in charge of education before ‘announcing’ the sudden closure to the PTA members.
“The state government would have interfered way early if the state Education Department and the school administration were transparent in the handling of this matter,” he added.
Satees said he would seek the help of the state government to safeguard the legacy of the school.
SK Assumption was established as a missionary school in 1933 on Jalan New Ferry and later relocated by a developer to Bagan Dalam.
It is set to close down permanently from Feb 28, with its 55 pupils due to be transferred to other schools.
Yesterday, Save Assumption School Joint Task Force spokesperson Vernon Christopher Fernandez said they were abruptly informed that the private landowner (Sri Avenue Sdn Bhd) had requested for the return of the land and building “as soon as possible”.
Fernandez claimed a meeting was held with the Education Ministry not to engage stakeholders to seek solutions but simply to announce the decision made by higher-ups to inform the stakeholders, especially the students and their parents, to accept the decision.
Nonetheless, the joint task force was given 14 days to find a solution. - Mkini
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