By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Dec 18: All the teachers of 14 Chung Hua Middle Schools in Sarawak will be receiving RM500 bonus each from Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak before Chinese New Year as a token of appreciation for their sacrifices and contributions to children’s education.
Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii revealed that 104 teachers from Chung Hua Middle School (CHMS) No. 1 will be receiving the bonus in time for Chinese New Year celebration next year.
“We have discussed with the school principal and the teachers have expressed hope to receive them before Chinese New Year and as such we will pass the bonus totalling RM52,000 to the school soon,” he told reporters today.
DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen had previously announced the RM500 bonus on Nov 20 to show appreciation for all teachers of Chinese Middle Schools in Sarawak.
CHMS No. 3 was the first to receive the bonus which went to 49 teachers.
Meanwhile Yii, together with Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong and Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei, were at CHMS No.1 to present donations to help the school following a fire incident on Dec 7.
A block housing six classrooms was severely damaged in the fire.
Yii and Chong contributed RM10,000 each to CHMS No. 1 to help the school start repair and rebuilding work on the damaged building so that schooling would not be disrupted.
“It is our concern and that’s why we are here to see how we can come together to find ways to help the school,” he said.
He also noted that the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) was still investigating the cause of the fire and the school was waiting for the report to determine the cost of the damage involved.
“The school will also have experts come in to do the proper estimate of rebuilding and repairing,” he added.
Yii pointed out that the effort showed that DAP Sarawak acknowledged the importance of Chinese Middle Schools in nation-building and educating Sarawakian children.
“It is also consistent with the federal government’s focus which saw an increase in allocation for Chinese Middle Schools throughout the country from RM12 million in 2019 to RM15 million in 2020.
“CHMS No. 1, for example, received RM193,000 in January this year and I believe the allocation will increase next year,” he added. —DayakDaily
