The Penang government hopes new affordable homes being built in the township will boost population, with more school-going children.
GEORGE TOWN: Enrolment is low in vernacular schools in Balik Pulau near here, with a Chinese primary school registering only one pupil for Year One next year.
State Chinese and mission schools committee vice-chairman Wong Hon Wai said only one pupil enrolled to start primary school at SJK (C) Sin Min in Pantai Acheh next year.
“Low enrolment is a problem, especially in Chinese schools in Balik Pulau. There are many schools there with a student population of under 150.
“It is a major problem in some of the rural schools, such as those in villages.
“The residents, namely the younger generation, have moved to the city so there are not many children going to school in Balik Pulau,” he told FMT.
Wong said the situation could change as more affordable housing projects were coming up in Balik Pulau.
He said 250 flat units, costing RM42,000 each, had been built in Jalan Baru and 1,000 more affordable homes were in the pipeline.
“Hopefully, with more homes that people can afford, Balik Pulau will see a population increase and enrolment in the schools may grow in tandem.
“It will not happen immediately, but maybe we will see improvements in five or 10 years.”
Earlier today, Wong visited several Chinese and mission schools in Balik Pulau.
He said the visits were for him to audit and get to know the schools and their needs.
He said the state gave aid to the schools because they were not fully-funded by the federal government.
Under the 2017 state budget, Penang has set aside RM8.5 million to help 131 mission, Chinese primary, independent and national-type schools in the state.
“There is now an issue with the RM50 million federal allocation for these types of schools in the country. These schools are facing problems now. There are bills to pay.
“So the state needs to give aid to these schools in Penang to help with the administrative costs.”
Wong was referring to reports last week that national-type Chinese schools had not yet received the RM50 million set aside for them under the 2016 national budget.
It was reported that budget cuts in the education ministry had limited access to the RM50 million fund for the maintenance and development of Chinese primary schools.
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2016/12/28/low-enrolment-plagues-chinese-schools-in-balik-pulau/
GEORGE TOWN: Enrolment is low in vernacular schools in Balik Pulau near here, with a Chinese primary school registering only one pupil for Year One next year.
State Chinese and mission schools committee vice-chairman Wong Hon Wai said only one pupil enrolled to start primary school at SJK (C) Sin Min in Pantai Acheh next year.
“Low enrolment is a problem, especially in Chinese schools in Balik Pulau. There are many schools there with a student population of under 150.
“It is a major problem in some of the rural schools, such as those in villages.
“The residents, namely the younger generation, have moved to the city so there are not many children going to school in Balik Pulau,” he told FMT.
Wong said the situation could change as more affordable housing projects were coming up in Balik Pulau.
He said 250 flat units, costing RM42,000 each, had been built in Jalan Baru and 1,000 more affordable homes were in the pipeline.
“Hopefully, with more homes that people can afford, Balik Pulau will see a population increase and enrolment in the schools may grow in tandem.
“It will not happen immediately, but maybe we will see improvements in five or 10 years.”
Earlier today, Wong visited several Chinese and mission schools in Balik Pulau.
He said the visits were for him to audit and get to know the schools and their needs.
He said the state gave aid to the schools because they were not fully-funded by the federal government.
Under the 2017 state budget, Penang has set aside RM8.5 million to help 131 mission, Chinese primary, independent and national-type schools in the state.
“There is now an issue with the RM50 million federal allocation for these types of schools in the country. These schools are facing problems now. There are bills to pay.
“So the state needs to give aid to these schools in Penang to help with the administrative costs.”
Wong was referring to reports last week that national-type Chinese schools had not yet received the RM50 million set aside for them under the 2016 national budget.
It was reported that budget cuts in the education ministry had limited access to the RM50 million fund for the maintenance and development of Chinese primary schools.
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2016/12/28/low-enrolment-plagues-chinese-schools-in-balik-pulau/
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