Chinese Schools

Yesterday, two Chinese community leaders shared with me their views on the Budget 2015 which had allocated RM56 billion to the Education Ministry for developing human capital.

Foon Yew High School's board of directors chairman Tong Sing Chuan said he was disappointed the government did not include independent schools in its budget allocation.
  "After graduation, we will do a follow-up on the students after they have sat for the Chinese education system's Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) examination.
  "In 2012, 97 per cent of them pursued further studies in universities or colleges that recognise the UEC.  

  "In 2013, nearly 100 per cent pursued further studies."
  "Last year, a total of 5,502 students applied for a place in Foon Yew High School in Johor Baru and in our other campus in Kulaijaya.  We had to turn away 3,902 students.
  "Beside UEC, we also encourage the students to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) although we did not make it compulsory.
  "The 3,902 who were turned away either had to further their studies in international schools, schools in Singapore or national schools," Tong said, adding that independent schools should get some  allocation as they too are producing graduates for the workforce, who will contribute to nation building.

Johor Chinese School Association expressed gratitude for the RM50 million allocation for Chinese primary schools under Budget 2015, but said a bigger allocation was needed.
  Its chairman Wang Toon Jui said the allocation was not in proportion with the number of students studying in Chinese vernacular schools nation-wide, in tandem with the number of students in Tamil vernacular schools and national type schools.
  In Johor, there are about 110,000 students in Chinese vernacular schools.