There is no need to increase the enrolment of non-bumiputra students in government residential schools, said Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
He said it was difficult to produce a formula that could please everyone and that the present arrangement would remain.
“If we talk about residential schools, then people will start talking about the exclusivity of the religious schools and the SJKC and SJKT schools.
Top scorer: Hishammuddin presenting the Best Student Award to SM Sains Tuanku Ja’afar’s top SPM scorer Muhammad Izzat Samsudin while his parents Samsudin Hassan and Rokiah Yunus look on Saturday.
“I, for one, am happy with the diversity as this is our strength ... we should celebrate this diversity,” he said after visiting SM Sains Tuanku Ja’afar near here.
Hishammuddin was asked if more non-bumiputras should be allowed to study in residential schools which normally did better that normal schools in the academic field.
Of the country’s 54 residential schools, only the Mara Junior Colleges reserved 10% of its seats for non-bumiputra students.
Hishammuddin said what was more important was that all schools taught the same values to all students so that they could continue to live in harmony and be tolerant.
“We must tell our children that although we are of different races, we are still Malaysians. As long as we can do this, I don’t see why we cannot continue with the present system,” he said.
On a separate matter, Hishammuddin said his ministry would provide financial aid to parent-teacher associations to reduce the burden on parents when it came to paying certain types of school fees.
“Let me make it very clear here that as far as the Government is concerned, school education in this country is free. There isn’t any compulsory fee.
“If parents feel they can’t afford a certain type of fee, they need not pay.
“However, we will help the PTAs to pay for certain types of fees imposed by schools that cannot be done away with,” he said.
Hishammuddin said he would seek a grant from the Government during the mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan so that a standard sum in aid for the PTAs could be considered.
He urged the national PTA body to submit proposals to the ministry on how this could be done.
Hishammuddin said the funds from certain projects that were supposed to have been carried out under the 9MP but have since been deferred would now be used to upgrade school facilities.
“I have directed the authorities in Negri Sembilan to upgrade all school canteens in the state. I also want toilets to be properly maintained,” he said.
Hishammuddin said since this did not require the acquisition of land , all approved maintenance and upgrading projects should start after 40 days.
“I want these projects to be carried out immediately,” he said, adding that SM Sains Tuanku Ja’afar would receive RM400,000.
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