RM15mil special allocation for 66 SMJKs
Published on: Sunday, November 23, 2014
.jpg "RM15mil special allocation for 66 SMJKs")
PUTRAJAYA: Sixty-six national-type secondary schools ((SMJKs) or Conforming Schools from throughout the country received cheques totalling RM15 million from Deputy Education Minister I Datuk Mary Yap Kain Cing at the Auditorium, Kompleks E, here, Thursday.Among them were SMJK Ken Hwa (Keningau), SMJK Chung Hwa (Tenom), SMJK Tinggi KK (Penampang) and SMJK Tiong Hwa (Sandakan) which received a total of RM1.5 million. On hand to receive the cheques were the Chairman of Dong Lian Sabah, Ben Lim Kiat Kong, school principals and chairmen of school management boards (LPS). Yap, who is Member of Parliament for Tawau, said the financial assistance was from the Government's 2014 Budget Special Allocation Package through the Ministry of Education.
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"A big 'thank you' to Deputy Prime Minister cum Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for approval of the RM15 million Special Allocation Package for distribution to SMJKs in the country."With this allocation, we are confident that it will assist all SMJKs in their efforts to raise the academic performance of students under the Education Transformation Programme in line with the aspirations of the National Education Blueprint (2013-2025)," she said.Yap also gave credit to the Education Ministry's Secretary-General Tan Sri Datuk Dr Madinah Mohamad, Deputy Secretary-General Datuk Abdul Shukor Ibrahim (Education Division) and officers of the Education Development Division for their prompt action in following up and following through with the Ministry of Finance for disbursements to the SMJKs.Speaking at the cheque presentation ceremony, the Deputy Education Minister I said the allocation of RM25 million for SMJKs for the Year 2015 and increase of school utility allocation from RM2,000 to RM5,000 as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when unveiling the 2015 Budget on October 10 this year are a testimony to the Government's concern and acknowledgement of the importance of SMJKs.
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"The gesture shows that the Government does not marginalise SMJKs. On the contrary, it ensures that this category of schools is on par with government schools," she added.According to Yap, the requests for inclusion of an allocation for SMJK building maintenance (like what is enjoyed by SJKCs, SJKTs and mission schools) in the budget, and for an increased allocation for school utilities were channelled to the ministry through her during a meeting with SMJK principals at SMJK Katholik, Petaling Jaya on February 10 this year.
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"Thumbs up to the Prime Minister and the Education Ministry's Secretary-General for making good your requests," she said.Both the Chairman of the Malaysian Development Council of Conforming Schools, Lim Eng Hua and Chairman of Dong Lian Sabah, Ben Lim Kiat Kong thanked Yap for making a successful breakthrough in getting the Conforming Schools to be incorporated into the 2015 Budget and thereafter."We also commend the Deputy Education Minister I for her commitment in getting the school utility expenses raised from RM2,000 to RM5,000 as requested by the school principals."On behalf of the school management boards and principals, we wish to express our gratitude to the Ministry of Education for looking into our needs," said the duo.Meanwhile, Yap called for cooperation from all school management boards (LPS) to ensure that the special allocation received is utilised with integrity and spent as soon as possible this year."We (KPM) also remind all LPS to prepare monthly reports on implementation of their respective maintenance projects for school buildings that are 'aging' or dilapidated," she said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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