Dong Zong: Chinese independent school needed in Kajang

PETALING JAYA: Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association) wants a Chinese independent school to be built in Kajang to overcome overcrowding in the existing eight vernacular schools in the Klang Valley.
Association president Datuk Vincent Lau said a request to this effect has been conveyed to Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak in a letter dated Aug 29 and that Dong Zong is waiting for a favourable reply from the prime minister, the Chinese press reported today.
"The student population of Chinese independent schools in the country has been increasing for the last 15 years.
"The figure stood at 85,199, an increase of 32,349 students or 61.21% from 52,850 in 2013," said Lau.
He said in the Klang Valley, tens of thousands of pupils complete their primary school education each year but because of the shortage of places, many of these pupils are turned away by the few Chinese independent schools available in this region.
"This is proof that Chinese independent schools in the Klang Valley are no longer able to meet the increasing demand for places," he said in his address at a dinner gathering held on Saturday night at Hin Hua High School in Klang to raise fund for the Malaysian private Chinese secondary school blueprint education fund.
Lau said he noted Najib had mentioned at Federation of Hokkian Associations of Malaysia's 60th anniversary celebration recently that prior to the last general election, the government had approved the application by Foong Yew High School in Johor to set up a branch.
"Tonight, I want to let the Chinese community know that Dong Zong had, on Aug 29, written to the prime minister with the hope that approval will be given for the establishment of a Chinese independent school in Kajang," said Lau.
"We hoped the prime minister would give his consent soon to address the problem of overcrowding in Chinese independent schools in the Klang Valley."
Lau also urged the federal government not to delay further on granting full recognition to Unified Examination Certificate.