What happens to the remaining 9,788 schools?

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to let us know what steps he has taken to raise the performance of 9,788 schools in the country. What type of extra financial allocation will be given to these schools?

On 26.1.2010, Dr Tan comments on the 20 schools, 14 secondary and six primary, which were accorded the status of high performance schools. Apparently, they were chosen based on outstanding performance in academic matters, co-curriculum and niche areas. Ten of the 14 secondary schools are fully residential schools and the rest day schools.


Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said these schools would be guided and monitored closely to ensure they continued to attain higher levels of performance.


Each school will be allocated a budget of RM1 million annually. They are given free rein as to how to spend the money, which will be given in a lump-sum payment early in the school year. They also have autonomy to innovate and improve the quality of their schools.

It is laudable that these schools are recognised as performing well. We hope that they will continue to do so.

On the other hand, Malaysia has 9,808 primary and secondary schools. What does the Education Minister have in mind for the remaining 9,788 schools? They do not have the extra RM1 million, which we hope will be accountably managed by the Education Departments and the 20 schools.

For various reasons, these schools may not do so well. Or, their performance my not be noticed by the Education Ministry. Perhaps, one reason is the the lack of fund. However, we hope Muhyiddin will tell us how they can improve. He must show that he assesses them fairly.

While we look after clever students and better schools, we must never forget others. How would he manage when parents fight hard to get their children to the above-stated 20 schools? When school term starts we will ask Muhyddin for help.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw