I refer to the article ‘Plans being drawn to ensure attention for all schools’ (The Star, June 14). The article reported that the Education Minister had wanted to be fair to all types of schools and would like feedback from local community leaders on the problems faced.

In particular, we welcome the Education Minister’s statement that “vernacular schools, mission schools and religious schools would not be neglected while national schools are developed”.

The Christian mission school authorities in Peninsular Malaysia represent the Catholic, Methodist, Anglican, Christian Brethren and Presbyterian Churches and oversee 229 government-aided Christian mission schools (84 secondary schools and 145 primary schools).

I understand that there are 235 more of such mission schools in Sabah and Sarawak. The sheer numbers of these mission schools would mean that they have contributed significantly to the growth and development of Malaysia for the last 150 years or so.

Our mission schools have been providing education to all students, regardless of race, religion or culture.

The mission authorities have fully cooperated with the government in implementing the national education goals, producing citizens loyal to the King and country, and instilling reverence for God.

It is worthwhile noting that many of our mission schools are of centenary status, or close to that. There is no mission school that has less than four decades of existence.

The mission authorities have readily and gladly allowed all properties, land and buildings to be used by the Education Ministry with no rentals imposed. However, we urge the ministry to look into the urgent matter of improving further the provision of basic amenities like chairs and tables for our teachers and students (all Malaysian citizens and children of tax-paying citizens) to our mission schools.

“Perishables” such as chairs, tables and computers are not fixtures and do not add value to the land or buildings; computers, of course, are necessary for effective teaching and learning in the ICT age.

Since 1997, mission schools have been classified as “SK” or “SMK”, which are ‘national schools’. We therefore hope that these schools will receive the same yearly allocations as fully-aided government schools.

Hopefully with annual allocations for the maintenance of our mission schools, students and teachers will be freed from the continual fund-raising for physical maintenance of mission schools.

It would greatly help alleviate our constant anxieties about occupiers’ liabilities that may affect the relevant authorities in the event of any accidents, injuries or, worse still, loss of life of students and teachers due to the poor physical maintenance of buildings.

We thank the Education Minister and really look forward to receiving equal attention as national schools under the National Education Blueprint 2006-2010’.

Dr Lim Boon Hock
Executive Director,
Methodist Council of Education

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