By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Dec 27: A total of 174 government-aided primary schools, including six missionary schools, in Sarawak have received a special allocation for this year totalling RM9.39 million from the Ministry of Education (MOE) yesterday.
Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong informed that the MOE electronically wired the special allocation of RM50 million to the accounts of all the government-aided schools in the country yesterday.
“In Sarawak, there are 191 government-aided primary schools (Sekolah Rendah Bantuan or SRB), but 17 schools did not make any requests for the funds, thus leaving 174 schools to get it. Out of the number, six are missionary schools,” she told a press conference at the Democratic Action Party (DAP) headquarters here today.
“The total amount received is RM9,390,000 or 18.78 per cent of the RM50 million allocated. The six missionary schools alone received a total of RM804,600,” she revealed.
The RM210,000 allocation for SJK (C) Chung Hua Stapok, which was announced by DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen recently, is also included in the special allocation.
According to Yong, there are 883 government-aided primary schools nationwide, in which 68 did not apply for the special allocation and 37 are missionary schools.
Yong pointed out that the approach in channelling money electronically and systematically all at once was the first in the history of Malaysia and reflected the big improvement in the system of the MOE, which deserved to be boasted.
“Not like the previous administration, where ministers went to schools to make announcements and pledged allocations but the money never came.
“The Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government and MOE is serious in making sure that all these schools received the money which they have requested.”
Meanwhile, Yong revealed that she had allocated RM45,000 from the Pending constituency allocation for SJK Chung Hua Pending for the use of painting the school’s buildings and replacing the rusty grills in the classrooms.
“The painting will be carried out ‘gotong-royong’ style, and the school has fixed March 23 for the project.
“The funds are also from the federal government and not GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) as it is sad to say that they have not given us a single sen until today despite Abang Jo (Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg) said they are PH-friendly,” she added.
Previously, Yong said the school had never received funds from local representatives of the Barisan Nasional (BN), and the school board had to seek donation to improve the physical structure of the school.— DayakDaily
