Chinese schools to get direct govt funding

PETALING JAYA: In an unprecedented move, the government said that the board of directors of Chinese schools will receive direct funding from the financial allocation of the economic stimulus package.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said the move was part of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government's new policy of educational empowerment that channelled the money directly to the school directors.

A total of 237 Chinese schools nationwide would be given RM27 million (S$11.2 million).

'The funding will include various payments for development, improvement works and equipment purchases,' he said.

'Religious schools had already received the money, while mission and Tamil schools will get theirs next.

'All the allocations should be used by the end of the year,' he told reporters after handing over the funds to representatives of Chinese schools in Subang Jaya yesterday.

Datuk Seri Najib, who is also Finance Minister, had announced in November last year that RM200 million would be given out to Chinese, Tamil, religious and mission schools under the government's stimulus package.

He said the direct allocation was the biggest test of trust given by the government to the board of directors of Chinese schools.

Mr Najib said that he had earlier mulled over the idea with the Cabinet members.

He said he received strong support from Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and the presidents of the Malaysian Chinese Association and Gerakan, the BN's Chinese-majority party components.

Mr Najib said a positive outcome of providing direct allocation to the Chinese schools was that the school board members can choose the best contractors who can build at cost.

He also urged the people not to politicise the national education policies, adding that it was more important that children be promised a better future through education.

He told the board members that they should not feel that they were marginalised or treated unfairly by the government.

'As long as you get maximum value for money, I'm very happy to give the money straight to the school board, and I hope that you will trust the Barisan Nasional government in return,' he added.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK