Under this project Tamil schools in Negri Sembilan, Perak, Kuala Lumpur, Perlis, Kedah and Johor has benefited. Project Ilmu helped upgrade schools, repairs infrastructure and also resolved crucial pending development cases like SRJK(T) Senawang in Negri Sembilan and SRJK(T) Sungai Salak. Upgrading of toilets and other facilities is Sua Betong, kelumpang, Sungai Choh and Effingham.
523 Tamil schools in Malaysia and its getting lesser
Number of Tamil Schools and Enrolment
Year 1957 1970 1980 1990 1993 2000
Number of schools 888 657 589 547 547 524
Number of Student 50,766 79,277 73,958 96,120 104,600 90,280
BREAKDOWN BY STATE
TOTAL : http://mynadi.wordpress.com/tamil-school-break-down/
BREAK DOWN DATA BY STATE and ZONE
Perak : http://mynadi.wordpress.com/tamil-school-data-perak/
Selangor: http://mynadi.wordpress.com/tamil-school-data-selangor/
Perlis: http://mynadi.wordpress.com/tamil-school-perlis/
Kedah: http://mynadi.wordpress.com/tamil-data-kedah/
Penang: http://mynadi.wordpress.com/tamil-school-data-penang/
Pahang: http://mynadi.wordpress.com/tamil-school-data-pahang/
Kuala Lumpur: http://mynadi.wordpress.com/tamil-school-data-kuala-lumpur/
Negeri Sembilan: http://mynadi.wordpress.com/tamil-school-data-negeri-sembilan/
Johor: http://mynadi.wordpress.com/tamil-school-data-johor/
Kelantan: http://mynadi.wordpress.com/tamil-school-data-kelantan/
Melaka: http://mynadi.wordpress.com/tamil-school-data-melaka/
To kick start as a pilot project from the first phase of Aid to Tamil Schools in the Stimulous Package, MyNadi has identified 34 Tamil schools in various states, both under BN and Pakatan state government. This shows that the aid is given based on the needs of these schools. The amount that MyNadi has aloocated is about 10 % of the proposed RM50 Million. Almost all 34 schools have an urgent need for basic furnitures and other facilities. These are items which can be rapidly delivered to these schools . The construction and renovation works listed can be done within a short span of time.
The break down is as follows :-
No Area Number of Schools Cost ( RM)
1 Kawasan Selangor and Kuala Lumpur 19 2,248,130.00
2 Perak 6 285,000.00
3 Daerah Segamat, Johor 8 2,570,000.00
4 Kedah 1 104,000.00
Total 34 5,207,103.00
The following 3 categories were looked into :-
1) FURNITURES such as chairs and desk, canteen benches and long tables, cupboards, shoe racks, teacher's tables and chairs, plastic chairs and file cabinets.
2) FACILITIES such as computers, ceiling fans, wall fans, white boards (4 x 8 feet), notice boards (softboard), portable PA system and fax machines.
3) STRUCTURES such as "Pondok Bacaan" (additional study area), toilet facilities, fencing, floor, painting and roof repairs.
By focusing on these issues, it is hoped that upon delivery of these aid, the community will believe that there is a genuine intention from the PM to help the Tamil schools. Through this, MyNadi calls on those who were reluctant earlier, to come forward with their list.
My Nadi's first project was SRJK (T) Senawang, which is situauted in a flood prone area and had plenty of damages. The PIBG has pledged for a new block since 2000. On 17th March 2009 the school's PIBG approached My Nadi regarding their plight. Through MyNadi's channels, a letter of approval was given by the PM, RM4.9 million was granted to build a four storey building on higher ground. The school building is expected to be completed in May 2010. Below is picture of SRJK (T) Senawang, Negeri Sembilan which is now in the verge of completion.
MyNadi has also done wiring works for Effingham Tamil school in Bandar Utama. JKR quoted RM120,000 for the job. MyNadi managed to assign a Malaysian Indian contactor for the same task, for only RM72,000 with additional VOs. You can see the pictures for yourself.
BEFORE (view of the school store)MyNadi assigned a local contactor to renovate/construct the facilities (canteen, store room and toilet), with additional task in wall partitions and built new wall with a budget of RM 123, 000.
(and view AFTER)
The famous shop lot Tamil School in Lukut, The Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Tamil) Sungai Salak, Lukut, which has been operating from a two-storey shoplot for the third year with 120 pupils. The school was granted RM 2.83 million to for building blocks and field. The school was also converted to a FULLY AIDED schoo. Further, it is not to be combined with SJK (T) Kem Tentera as planned earlier. The PIBG has been working on acquiring additional 4 acres of land for the school.
All necessary documents have been submitted to My Nadi. SRJK(T) has received a one-hectare plot of land from the government for a school building to be ready in 12 months.
The handover of the land ownership was held at the site of the new school to underline the sincerity of the Prime Minister to help the Indian community. The building is expected to go up on May 2010 with the RM2.83 million funding.
Discussion with SRJK(T) Escot, Hulu Selangor, Requesting for a van
MyNadi met with the SRJK (T) Escot, Hulu Selangor PIBG. The school has requested for a van in December 2009.
Why the school needs a van?
The school is situated about 3km from the trunk road and there is no bus services in to the school. Many pupils have to walk for a distance of 3km to and fro daily. A request from the PIBG to MyNadi to arrange a van for the school's pupil transportation.
There are many factors
1. The Tamil School Delima
One of the weakness advocates of Tamil education is the lack of governmental intervention. Public spending on Tamil schools to date has been woefully lacking.My NADI has urged the Education Ministry to look into the matter. Tamil schools in general perform poorly compared to the national and Chinese schools.This is an inherent problem particularly among estate schools and poor leaderships.These are under achieving schools that have the potential to improve but due to lack of opportunity and motivation and the prevalent bad conditions, they are not able to reach their full potential The odds are against these children who come from poor homes and study at poor schools.
2. The budget allocation for Tamil schools in the 7th Malaysia plan (1996-2000) was reduced to half, only RM 10,902,000 or about 1.02% of the total allocation for education. The allocation for the Tamil schools in the 8th Malaysia plan is expected to far exceed previous amounts as the development of opposition politics and the activism and demands of the NGOs.
3. The crux of the problem is the status of these schools. As they are located on private estate land, they fall under the "model school" category which means that they are only partially aided by the Government.
4. Under the Education Act 1995, schools located on private land are not eligible for a full grant from the Government. As a result, these schools are forced to source their own funds for their basic infrastructure, including additional classrooms.
5. The Government should look after the infrastructure of all schools equally. All schools should receive full aid from the Government. It appears that the national schools are favoured while Tamil schools are like the stepchildren. This creates a learning environment which is not conducive, with the lack of adequate infrastructure and sufficient basic facilities.
6. Teacher shortage: The pathetic state of Tamil education is worsened by the shortage of trained teachers. It was reported that there were vacancies for more than 1,000 teachers in Tamil schools. Ministry of Education confides that temporary teachers are recruited to overcome the problem -- Tamil schools have the highest number of temporary teachers.
7. Most of the Tamil schools are pathetic and disheartening. The Tamil students attend classes in a run-down school while the peers less than a kilometre away are enjoying a spanking new building, life seems rather unfair. Dilapidated, the building lacks basic facilities such as classrooms, proper toilets, telephone and even a canteen. Instead of having access to a large field, a school hall, with lack of science laboratories and a computer laboratory have to cope with the bare necessities. The school has an enrolment of 500 students but no field, no laboratory or library, staff room for teachers or even proper toilets for students.
8. Most Tamil schools face the same problem. In fact, many are worse off -- no canteen, no proper roofing, and sometimes, no classrooms even. "It is very demotivating. Both the students and teachers feel quite dispirited when they see the big disparity between the two schools. There classrooms are separated by plywood. There are also only two toilets for the 500 students and there is no field for sports.
9. Not enough funds
Unfortunately, not much progress has been achieved since independence. Off all the 523 Tamil schools in Malaysia, of which 360 are estate schools, with a track record of being backward.
10. While their urban counterparts moan about the lack of computers, these estate schools grapple with fundamental problems.
