Kuala Lumpur Arts School to be completed by October

KUALA LUMPUR: Work on the Kuala Lumpur Arts School (SSeMKL) in Jalan Seladang here, abandoned since 2014, is scheduled to be completed by October this year.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the project was taken over by a new contractor in July last year and the school would be ready to accept students for the 2018 academic session.
"The arts school which is located on a 2.79ha site can accommodate 400 students. It is equipped with a hostel and other facilities ," he told reporters after making a working visit to the school today.
Also present was the director-general of Education, Tan Sri Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof.
SSeMKL is the third arts school after the Sarawak Arts School and the Johor Arts School.
Last year, the ministry added two more schools under the Arts Education Programme, namely SMK Muhibbah in Perak and SMK Elopura in Sabah.
The SSeMKL was set up in 2014 and is now operating on shared premises in SMK Shah Alam, Bukit Jelutong, Selangor.
With its concept of developing the potential and talents in arts among students, the arts schools aims to become a centre of excellence for arts and culture education in order to produce world-class culture personalities.
Mahdzir said the ministry had received a large number of applications for enrolment into arts schools which required thorough screening in order to select only those who are truly eligible and capable in the field.
"At present, the overall number of students under the Malaysian Arts School Programme is about 1,000. There are four areas of study music, theatre, dance and visual arts," he said. — Bernama