SHAH ALAM, June 3 – The Selangor State Government is setting a new record. For the year 2009, it has allocated a sum of RM4 million for the Tamil schools in Selangor. The RM4 million constitutes 33.3% of the total amount allocated for the primary schools in Selangor by the State Government. This shows a need based approach is in action in Selangor as far as Tamil schools are concerned.

Any allocation of funds requires an efficient delivery system, transparency and accountability. The State governments in its effort achieve that had formed a secretariat committee with elected representatives and civil society representatives. The secretariat was assisted by NGOs who have been on the ground and doing with the Tamil schools.

A filed study was embarked late last year and a preliminary report was tabled. It identified the main components for the attention of the State Government. They are land, infrastructure and programme to improve the children.

State Government takes cognizance of the fact that majority of the Tamil schools children come from working class environment.

While issue related to land and infrastructures are important and relevant, the reality demands that we address the needs of the children this moment who are enrolled in the Tamil schools in Selangor. There are 97 schools with an enrollment of about 34,000 children.

We take note that the UPSR performance of the Tamil school children with a minimum of a “C” for pass is still low in comparison with the national average. In 2008, the Selangor schools passing rate was 45 per cent and the national average for the year was 63 per cent.

This compels for an urgent intervention. A meaningful intervention is only possible with a vibrant and concerted effort by all parties involved with the school system. The parents, teachers, head teachers and local community must take full and complete responsibility for the education of the children. While the governments fulfill its obligation in supporting the Tamil schools with sufficient grant allocations, land and infra-structure support.

The secretariat for Tamil schools had identified three potential partners from the civil society groups to assist in the intervention programmes. These organizations are Child Information and Learning Development Centre (CHILD), Tamil Foundation and Education Welfare and Research Foundation (EWRF).

The State Government shall be giving them a grant of RM1,588,382 to carry out 10 different programmes. These programmes encompasses areas of setting up preschools in Tamil schools, addressing the plight of slow learners, improving language skills in English and Bahasa Malaysia, motivational and leadership programmes with outdoor camps and nature study, comprehensive and integrated programme in selected schools, total immersion camps in English for 21 days, trial programme on parents assuring students success, land survey of Bantuan Modal Tamil schools and publishing of a magazine for Tamil schools.

These programmes were rolled out two months ago. The full implementation is expected to continue into the first quarter of next year. For the continuity of the programmes the secretariat will closely monitor the implementation and study the cost-benefit analysis.

With full participation of the local community, civil society and the Tamil schools system, we are confident of the success of all the programmes. When we become confident of the partnership, there is no reason why the State Government of the present and the future should not continue with such  programmes in the future with adequate allocations to meet the demands.

Dr. Xavier Jayakumar
Exco Kesihatan, Pekerja Ladang,
Kemiskinan dan Kerajaan Prihatin
Negeri Selangor