Petaling Jaya, March 5- Despite their existence protected under the Federal Constitution, Tamil schools have always found themselves in a lurch due to lack of support from the government.
They used to number in the thousands but now there are only about 500 left after many rubber estates, which used to house vernacular schools, were taken away in the name of development.
One such school is the Sekolah Tamil Seaport, which is the only Tamil school remaining in Kelana Jaya.
In December last year, the school headmistress, under the instruction of the Education Ministry, took away all of the school amenities to a new one in Kampung Lindungan, about 4 kilometres away.
However, 28 of the 115 students have refused to move to the new school, and their parents and former students formed the ‘Save Our School SJK (T) Seaport Movement (SOSS)’.
For now, they have several former teachers guiding the remaining students, on a pro bono basis.
“I’m doing this to preserve the Tamil language and our culture,” said G Murugasu, one of the five teachers volunteering at the school.
Although the teachers do not have a fixed salary, parents have collected donations to contribute towards their daily expenses.
When FMT visited the school last week, only two teachers were present, as the rest were on leave.
“They have other commitments. We cannot force them because they are doing it on a voluntary basis,” said Murugasu, who retired from the service in 2002.
seaport tamil school2Asked if it was possible for one teacher to teach so many subjects, he said that it was a normal practice at several other Tamil vernacular schools.
“There are schools where the teachers teach various subjects. Here, our emphasis is on reading, writing, Mathematics and languages,” he said.
Touching on the forced closure of the school, an upset Murugasu said that the school must be allowed to continue its operations.
“Why should the school be closed? There are 30 students here and there is a building to cater to them.
“The new school (in Kampung Lindungan) can focus on the Indian community there,” said Murugasu, who used to teach at the Seaport Tamil school in the 90s.
‘Give Back School’s Operating License’
He also asked for the school’s facilities to be returned and urged the government to provide the necessary for the school to continue operating as usual.
A check by FMT found that the school library, sports facilities store and science laboratory were all left bare, possibly taken to the new school.
“Apart from this, students are deprived of text books, the RM100 book vouchers, Food Supplementary Programme (RMT) and milk scheme,” said Murugasu.
seaport tamil school1K Letchimy, who operates the school canteen, said she has three children studying the school and would not budge from her decision to keep them in the current school.
“We don’t want to transfer our kids as the school in Kampung Lindungan is a far from where we live,” said the 40-year-old Letchimy, who lives in Lembah Subang.
Letchimy also claimed that she was ‘harassed’ by the school headmistress who is now heading the Tamil school in Kampung Lindungan.
“The headmistress always calls, telling me if I transfer my children they will receive the RM100 book vouchers. But we don’t want it. I just want our children to be schooled here,” she said.
Asked if it was alright for one teacher to teach her children several subjects, Letchimy said she has no problems with that. “I have no qualms. My son who is in Year Six is a better student now.”
Malaysia Tamil School Boards president, R Kannan, pointed out that the new school, which was completed in December last year, is built on a one-acre land.
“This is contrary to PKNS’ promise that it will build a new school on a five-acre land. What difference can a one-acre land make? The so called improvement is only on paper,” he said.
On the school license being revoked, Kannan said it was daylight robbery.
“The school’s operating licence was taken away from this school. We are now requesting the Education Ministry to give back the operating licence,” said Kannan.
Kannan, who is also part of the SOSS, is also requesting the Selangor state government to gazette the land to the school as promised in 2008.
Last week, several parents from the school submitted a memorandum to the United Nations (UN) and Suhakam in an effort to retain the old school.
The school, which was taken over under the name of development by the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) in 1965, was founded about 80 years ago.
The Education Ministry has said that it would not recognise the 28 students if they continue studying in the old school, including the six students who are due to sit for UPSR later year.
SOSS will also be admitting 21 pre-school students beginning this month.
-FreeMalaysiaToday
